England, Brazil name rosters for SheBelieves; tournament begins on Wednesday

England vs. Brazil and United States vs. Japan on the first day of the SheBelieves Cup on Feb. 27

BY Jacqueline Purdy February 22, 2019
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Rachel Daly has been called in by England for the SheBelieves Cup. (Photo credit: Wilf Thorne/isiphotos.com)

Earlier this week, England and Brazil announced their rosters for the 2019 SheBelieves Cup with NWSL players on both teams. The United States and Japan released their rosters last week, so the full tournament slate is set and all four teams will feature NWSL players. The tournament begins on February 27 in Philadelphia.

Notebook: Busy week across the NWSL; call-ups, coaching hires, preseason matches and more

The latest NWSL news

BY Celia Balf February 22, 2019
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The North Carolina Courage and Orlando Pride will meet ahead of the season in a preseason match in Cary, N.C. (Photo credit: Jeremy Reper/isiphotos.com)

There’s been no shortage of news across the NWSL this week.

Orlando Pride defender Monica announced on Instagram that she will not be returning to the Pride for the 2019 season. Monica played in 17 games for the Pride in 2018 and recorded 15 starts on the backline. She finished the season with 40 clearances, 17 blocks, and 31 interceptions.

Sky Blue FCre-signed forward Jen Hoy to a new contract ahead of the 2019 season, the club announced on Wednesday. Hoy was acquired by Sky Blue in a trade with the Chicago Red Stars in January 2018 and appeared in 10 matches in her first season with New Jersey.

“Jen is the type of player that contributes both on and off the field,” Sky Blue FC head coach Denise Reddy said in the club’s press release. “In addition to her talent on the ball, her leadership and experience in the league is a huge asset to this team and we are excited to have her return for another year at Sky Blue.”

Sky Blue FC also announced they have hired assistant coaches Alex Mendolia and Christiane Lessa, as well as goalkeeper coach Hugo Macedo on Thursday.

“We have put together a strong, experienced and diverse technical staff to ensure we get the best out of each individual player,” Reddy said. “These coaches all bring international experience, expertise and are specifically knowledgeable of the women’s game here in the States.”

Washington Spirit forward Cheyna Matthews was named to Jamaica’s national team roster for a set of two friendlies against Chile before the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. Before she earned the call-up, Matthews attended Jamaica’s January camp for the first time in her career.

On Wednesday, the North Carolina Courage and Orlando Pride announced that they will play in a preseason game on Saturday, March 23 at Sahlen’s Stadium at WakeMed Soccer Park. The game will be a part of North Carolina Football Club’s first-ever Friendship Cup international doubleheader.

Courage vs. Pride will kick off at 1 p.m. ET followed by NCFC vs. Necaxa of Mexico’s Liga MX at 3:30 p.m. ET.

[NEWS] NC Courage to Face Orlando Pride in Historic Doubleheader on March 23.

North Carolina Courage forward Crystal Dunn participated in Major League Soccer’s Black History Month panel. MLS invited five members from the soccer community to come together and discuss race and their black experience in soccer. The full panel is available on the MLS site.

It was an amazing honor to be apart of this year’s MLS black history month Panel. Great stories and experiences were shared on what its like to be a black soccer player 😬👊🏾💥 pic.twitter.com/O8wsyMhD8q

New Australia women’s national team head coach Ante Milicic announced the 23 players that will represent the Matildas at the inaugural Cup of Nations in Sydney, Brisbane, and Melbourne later this month.

The 2019 Cup of Nations will kick-off at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Kogarah on Thursday, February 28. 11 NWSL players were named to the roster.

In addition to the three Reign FC players named to Australia’s roster, the club sends off seven other players on international duty during the FIFA break. Megan Rapinoe (United States), Allie Long (United States), Rumi Utsugi (Japan), Jodie Taylor (England), Theresa Nielsen (Denmark) and Celia Jiménez Delgado (Spain).

Ten @ReignFC players have been called up for international duty during the upcoming FIFA break. 🇺🇸 🇯🇵 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁥󠁮󠁧󠁿 🇩🇰 🇪🇸 🇦🇺 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

Courage acquire Stephanie Labbé

The North Carolina Courage have acquired Canadian goalkeeper Stephanie Labbé. The club made the news official on Friday and said that per club policy, no further details of the transaction would be disclosed.

Labbé rejoins the NWSL after playing for the Washington Spirit in 2016 and 2017, making 25 appearances and recording seven clean sheets. She parted ways with the Spirit after the 2017 season, and most recently played for Linköpings FC in Sweden.

Labbé joins a team that has earned 26 clean sheets over the last two seasons, including the playoffs, split between two goalkeepers: Katelyn Rowland and Sabrina D’Angelo. This offseason, D’Angelo departed the team for Vittsjö in Sweden, meaning that the Courage were in need of a second goalkeeper.

For the Canadian national team, Labbé has made 57 appearances and earned 25 clean sheets. She was the starting goalkeeper at the 2016 Olympics, where Canada earned a bronze medal. Canada has qualified for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, meaning that Labbé will be likely to miss a portion of the season due to this summer’s tournament.

“Losing Sabs [D’Angelo] was never going to be easy but gaining Steph [Labbé] is massive for the club,” Courage head coach Paul Riley said in a team press release. “She has fantastic feet, excellent organization skills, great shot blocker and has a proven presence which is crucial in the top levels of the game. Her training habits are exemplary and I’m sure Kate [Rowland] and Steph will push each other every day to develop their own game. Proud to have two such quality goalkeepers at the prime of their careers. We are excited to get Steph in our training environment to further improve the squad as we look to establish COURAGE country as the destination for the world’s best players.”

NWSL announces full 2019 schedule

The National Women’s Soccer League released the full 2019 regular season schedule on Thursday. For the third-straight year all nine teams will play a 24-game regular season schedule, with 12 home games and 12 away games.

Preseason will begin on March 4 and the regular season will begin the weekend of April 13-14. The league will take a break for the group stage of 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup from June 3-14 and return June 15-16. The regular season will conclude with four matches on October 12.

For 2019, fans in the United States can watch all of the NWSL’s regular season matches via streaming on Yahoo! Sports. International fans will be still be able to follow the action on the NWSL app and NWSLsoccer.com

Portland Thorns FC fans will have to wait until June 2 for the big home opener at Providence Park. All of the other NWSL teams have their home openers in April, but Providence Park has been undergoing a large expansion construction project that won’t be complete until later this spring.

The Thorns have a chance to set a new attendance record in the NWSL thanks to the expansion of Providence Park, with a new seating capacity of around 25,000. The Orlando Pride still hold the all time NWSL record thanks to the 23,403 fans who attended their inaugural match in 2016.

Reign FC will make their debut in Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, Washington on Sunday, April 21 vs. the Orlando Pride.

This year there will be 12 mid-week (Wednesday) games and one game on Monday, May 27 at Cheney Stadium featuring Reign FC vs. the North Carolina Courage.

2019 Home Openers

The Courage will open the 2019 NWSL season at home vs. the Red Stars on April 13

BY Jacqueline Purdy February 21, 2019
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The 2019 NWSL season kicks off on April 13. (Photo credit: Andy Mead/isiphotos.com)

The NWSL released the full 2019 schedule on Thursday. Eight teams will play their home openers in the first two weeks of the season, but we’ll have to wait a little longer to see Providence Park in 2019.

Among the highlights: the North Carolina Courage will open the season at home vs. the Chicago Red Stars, in a rematch of the 2017 and 2018 NWSL semifinals.

Due to stadium construction, Portland Thorns FC won’t play their home opener until June 2, when they welcome the Red Stars to the newly renovated Providence Park.

Following their offseason move, Reign FC will play their first game at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma on April 21 vs. the Orlando Pride. The Red Stars will be in the same stadium, but with a new name, as Toyota Park is now Seat Geek Stadium. They’ll host the Thorns on April 20 for their home opener.

It’s a rematch of the 2018 NWSL semifinal, which was set to be played in North Carolina, but was moved because of Hurricane Florence. The Courage won the semifinal 2-0 after it was moved to Providence Park in Portland. And that win wasn’t the first time North Carolina has kept Chicago from advancing to the NWSL Championship. The Courage also beat the Red Stars in the 2017 semifinal. Despite the Red Stars going 3-1-2 vs. the Courage during the last two regular seasons, they’ve have not been able to make it past North Carolina in the postseason.

This game could be the professional debut of U.S. women’s national team defender Tierna Davidson, who was drafted by the Red Stars with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft after leaving Stanford early to join the league.

After Reign FC play their first game at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma on April 21, the next time they’ll be at home is on May 18 when Sky Blue FC visit. It’ll be the first time the two teams meet since the offseason trade that sent Shea Groom to the Reign and Nahomi Kawasumi to Sky Blue FC. Kawasumi is beloved by Reign fans, and it will be quite strange for them to see her in the opponent’s jersey.

Not only did Utah Royals FC hand the North Carolina Courage their only defeat of the year, they actually never lost to the 2018 NWSL Champions last season—the only team to accomplish the feat. In addition to their last-second dramatic win, Utah pulled off two ties vs. the Courage. Utah Royals FC finished in fifth place in 2018, just shy of getting another chance to face the Courage in the playoffs and, perhaps, pull off another big upset. Brittany Ratcliffe had North Carolina’s number last season—one of just two players to score more than one goal vs. the league’s best defense. The only other player to score twice vs. the Courage? Sam Kerr.

The NWSL is back with a full slate of games the first weekend after the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, the first chance to possibly see the league’s international stars post-tournament. Red Stars and Australia forward Sam Kerr is poised to make headlines in France, and this could be her first NWSL game following the World Cup. The Dash and Red Stars wrapped up their season series on May 12 last year, so it’s been quite awhile since the two teams played each other. The Dash nearly had an opening weekend win over the Red Stars last year, but the Red Stars equalized late to steal a point.

This season will also be the first opportunity for Sofia Huerta and Taylor Comeau to face their old Red Stars team following last year’s blockbuster midseason trade.

Every seat in Providence Park could be filled as Portland Thorns FC welcome the Orlando Pride to town the first Sunday after the Women’s World Cup. With the new capacity of the stadium expected to be around 25,000, the Thorns will have a chance to set a new NWSL record for attendance. The current record is held by the Pride, set in their inaugural home opener.

Lindsey Horan had one of her best performances of the season vs. Utah Royals FC on July 6, a 4-0 win for the Thorns, on her way to winning the MVP trophy. Portland went unbeaten vs. Utah in 2018, scoring seven total goals vs. one of the leagues’s stingiest defenses.

Two straight NWSL Championships have now been Courage vs. Thorns (and the teams met in the 2016 semifinals when the Courage were the Western New York Flash). So, there’s a bit of rivalry between the two clubs. While they’ll meet for the first time in 2019 on June 15 in North Carolina, August 11 will be the first time the Courage return to Providence Park since their 3-0 win over the Thorns in the 2018 NWSL Championship. It’ll also be the first time the teams will meet with their full complement of the players, as their first meeting is during the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

The Red Stars—led by two-time Golden Boot winner Sam Kerr —emphatically eliminated the Pride from playoff contention in 2018. In a game the Pride needed to win to stay alive, Kerr was just too much to handle, tallying two goals and an assist in a 3-1 win. Kerr scored four goals in three games vs. Orlando last season.

There always seems to be drama when the Spirit and Pride meet. Who can forget Marta‘s 86th minute game-winning goal from last season?

Or that time Marta and Mallory Pugh each bagged braces with Pugh equalizing in the 90th minute? Or the three highlight reel goals from Marta, Camila and Alex Morgan in 2017? Or Pugh and Ashley Hatch scoring late to steal a win for the Spirit last season?

The Reign may have moved to Tacoma, but the Thorns/Reign rivalry will still be strong. Thorns FC beat Reign FC on the final weekend of the regular season to snatch the No. 2 seed away from the Reign, who had held for it much of the season. Then Portland won again at home in the semifinals to advance to the final.

Once again, the final Cascadia clash will come late in the regular season, this time on the Reign’s new home pitch in Tacoma. Will another playoff spot be on the line?

A+E Networks and NWSL end partnership

A+E Networks and NWSL announced the amicable end to their partnership on Thursday

BY NWSL Media Staff February 20, 2019
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The National Women’s Soccer League issued the following press release on Wednesday:

CHICAGO (Feb. 20, 2019) – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) and A+E Networks today announced an amicable end to their partnership, to take effect immediately, with one year remaining in their three-year broadcast agreement.

The two entities announced their partnership in early 2017, with A+E Networks acquiring an equity stake in the league, joining existing team ownership groups. The joint venture between NWSL and A+E Networks included the launch of NWSL Media to lead media and sponsorship initiatives, and Lifetime became an official sponsor and broadcast partner of the league. Lifetime will continue to support the league through a sleeve sponsorship agreement.

Said David Granville-Smith, COO and CFO, A+E Networks: “A+E Networks and Lifetime were proud to support the amazing athletes of the NWSL and to have produced a first-class Game of the Week production that highlighted their amazing talents. We are excited to continue to support the league with the sleeve sponsorship in 2019 and look forward to seeing the NWSL grow in the years to come.”

“Our two seasons with A+E were rewarding for our league, players, sponsors and fans, just as we had anticipated, and the experiences on the path we traveled with a national television partner have served NWSL well today and will for the future,” said NWSL President Amanda Duffy. “The continued support from Lifetime through the sleeve sponsorship speaks to the authenticity and strength of the partnership we forged during these past two seasons. NWSL is a pioneering league, still in its infancy, as it builds and evolves to become the premier women’s league in the world’s most popular sport.”

NWSL Media will continue operating as the commercial arm of the league, overseeing all of its global broadcast and sponsorship rights, and managing all digital assets for the NWSL, including the league’s social media platforms.

For 2019, all of the NWSL’s regular season matches will be streamed on Yahoo! Sports while international fans will be able to watch games on the NWSL app and NWSLsoccer.com.

The 2019 NWSL season schedule will be released on Thursday, February 21.

Playing its first season in 2013, the NWSL is a 9-team Division-I women’s professional soccer league set to kick off its historic seventh season this year with support from the Canadian Soccer Association and United States Soccer Federation.

McCaskill’s brace crowns Sydney FC W-League Champions

Sydney FC defeated Perth Glory 4-2 in the W-League Grand Final

BY Celia Balf February 19, 2019
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Savannah McCaskill finished the Grand Final with two goals in three shots and 89 minutes played. (Photo credit: Howard C. Smith/isiphotos.com)

Houston Dash midfielder Sofia Huerta and new Washington Spirit midfielder Chloe Logarzo chipped in a goal each for the Sky Blues. Sydney FC were crowned the W-League champs for the first time since 2013.

On the other side of the pitch, Perth Glory found the back of the net twice thanks to Chicago Red Stars forwards Sam Kerr and Alyssa Mautz. All six goals in Saturday’s Grand Final came from NWSL players.

Kerr finished the W-League season with 17 goals. Kerr became the first player to ever score three goals in the W-League Finals Series when she scored a hat trick against Melbourne Victory Women in the semifinals. Kerr holds both the W-League (68 goals) and NWSL (59 goals) all-time scoring records.

Huerta opened up the game in the sixth minute when she took a touch with her right foot at the top of the box and then blasted a shot into the right corner to give the Sky Blues a 1-0 lead.

️⚽️ | An absolute 🚀 from @schuerta to open the scoring in the 2019 @WLeague Grand Final!

Kerr scored her 17th goal of the season in the 23rd minute to even the game up 1-1.

Sydney FC found a way to get ahead just before the break when Portland Thorns FC forward Caitlin Foord served a ball to the head of McCaskill. McCaskill connected with the service and finished it to make it 2-1 Sydney FC in the 41st minute.

McCaskill finished her second of the day in the 61st minute to extend the Sky Blues lead to 3-1. McCaskill read a lofted header that went over the Perth Glory defense, brought the ball down and finished it far post.

Canada will play Iceland in the Algarve Cup on February 27. (Photo credit: Brad Smith/isiphotos.com)

Canada has named eight NWSL players to the 23-woman roster for the Algarve Cup, Canada Soccer announced on Friday.

Canada will face Iceland on February 27 and Scotland on March 1 in the first two games of the tournament in Portugal. Canada will then play a final match on March 6 (opponent to be determined based on standings) to determine placement in the tournament. Both Scotland and Canada are headed to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer.

Japan will play its first game vs. the United States in Philadelphia, followed by games vs. Brazil (in Nashville) and England (in Tampa). All four teams are ranked in the top ten in the world, and have qualified for the Women’s World Cup.

Spirit acquire Australian internationals Amy Harrison, Chloe Logarzo

Harrison and Logarzo join the Spirit from Sydney FC

BY Celia Balf February 15, 2019
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Logarzo has earned 29 caps with the Australian WNT. (Photo credit: Brad Smith/isiphotos.com)

The Washington Spirit have signed Australian international Amy Harrison and agreed to a loan for fellow Matilda Chloe Logarzo, the club announced on Thursday, pending completion of international paperwork. Harrison and Logarzo, both midfielders, join the Spirit from Sydney FC in the W-League.

“Adding two quality players of proven international pedigree like Chloe and Amy is huge for our club,” Spirit head coach Richie Burke said in a press release. “Having spoken to both players regularly during this process, I know they are very excited to join us here in Washington — and I believe they will make a huge impact with our team and in our league.”

Harrison and Logarzo will be on the pitch this weekend in the W-League Grand Final against Perth Glory FC. Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe will also be competing this weekend for Sydney FC.

“It’s not an accident that their Sydney FC team is in the W-League finals this weekend, both players are serial winners and I know they’ll bring that mentality to our club. I’m absolutely thrilled to have both Matildas players at Washington Spirit this season,” Burke said.

Logarzo earned Sydney FC’s Player of the Year honors after starting every game and scoring three goals this W-League season. For Australia, Logarzo has earned 29 caps and scored six goals.

Despite being out with an injury for much of the 2018 W-League season, Harrison made 10 appearances, starting in nine games, for Sydney FC. For the Matildas, Harrison has made eight career appearances.

Notebook: Spirit announce preseason schedule; new social look for USWNT

The Washington Spirit announced their preseason schedule ahead of the 2019 NWSL season on Tuesday. The Spirit are set to play four games and will open up against James Madison University on March 16.

On March 23, the Spirit will welcome Girondins de Bordeaux of the Division 1 Féminine to the Maryland SoccerPlex. The Spirit will wrap up their preseason matches against the University of North Carolina Tar Heels on March 30 and Virginia Tech on April 6.

Washington Spirit 2019 Preseason Schedule

March 16 at City Stadium in Richmond, Va.Spirit vs. James Madison University at 7 p.m. ET

New Jersey’s First Lady Tammy Murphy made a statement on behalf of Sky Blue FC ownership on Tuesday about improvements for 2019. She committed to an active role in the club activities.

“We recognize there have been challenges,” Murphy wrote, “but I am looking forward to working with our team to create a climate of success. We are excited about the new players who are now a part of the Sky Blue family, and we can’t wait to see them join our returning players. But above all, we appreciate the dedication and loyalty of our fans.”

U.S. women’s national team head coach Jill Ellis has named the 23-woman roster for the SheBelieves Cup, which begins on February 27. All 23 players are from the NWSL. The U.S. will play its first game on February 27 vs. Japan in Philadelphia, followed by games vs. England (in Nashville) and Brazil (in Tampa).

The U.S., England, Japan and Brazil are all ranked in the top ten in the world. The tournament is a key test for the four Women’s World Cup bound teams ahead of this summer.

In addition to the 23 on the roster, four more players will be part of the training camp that will be held in Tampa prior to the tournament: goalkeeper Jane Campbell (Houston Dash), defender Merritt Mathias (North Carolina Courage), midfielder Allie Long (Reign FC) and defender Emily Fox (University of North Carolina).

U.S. Soccer also announced that all U.S. games will be broadcast in the U.S. on FS1 or FOX, and the other three games will stream on ussoccer.com. (Full schedule below)

Notebook: Preseason schedules rolling in; Courage sign Haran

On Monday, Portland Thorns FC announced the details for their fourth-annual Spring Invitational. The tournament will be presented by Tillamook and will run from March 24-30 at the University of Portland. It will feature four teams: the Thorns, the Chicago Red Stars, Reign FC and the U.S. Under-23 women’s national team.

In other NWSL preseason news, the Red Stars and Reign FC announced their preseason schedules ahead of the 2019 NWSL regular season.

The Red Stars will play four matches throughout preseason, including their three games at the Thorns Spring Invitational and one against the University of Missouri for a closed-door scrimmage on Saturday, March 9.

Reign FC will begin their 2019 campaign with a training session on March 4. Reign FC will then travel to play the UCLA Bruins on March 16 before heading to Portland for the Thorns Spring Invitational on March 24. Reign FC will close out their preseason schedule against the University of Washington on April 5.

Our full 2019 preseason schedule has been released: we’ll face off against @UCLAWsoccer 3/16, participate in the Thorns Spring Invitational 3/24 – 3/30, and play @UW_WSoccer 4/5.

The North Carolina Courage announced on Monday that they have acquired Wake Forest University defender, Ally Haran.

“Ally has a fantastic opportunity to stake her claim to a starting job,” Courage head coach Paul Riley said in the team’s press release.

“She has the athleticism, mindset and ability on the ball to fit right in with our environment. At the end of the day, players must love the process of doing their best every day, all of the time. She will be coming into a nurturing, curious environment and it’s our job to get the best out of her. She has many great tools and in a World Cup year she has a brilliant chance to elevate her game and be a key impact member of our squad.”

Kerr scores a historic hat trick in W-League Finals Series

Perth Glory and Sydney FC set to meet in W-League Grand Final this weekend

BY Celia Balf February 11, 2019
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Sam Kerr is the all-time leading goal scorer in the W-League and the NWSL. (Photo credit: Daniel Bartel/isiphotos.com)

Perth Glory Women and Sydney FC Women will meet in the W-League Grand Final on Saturday at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium after a thrilling weekend of semifinal action.

Chicago Red Stars forward Sam Kerr made history, again, leading Perth Glory with a hat trick to defeat Melbourne Victory Women. Kerr became the first player to ever score three goals in the W-League Finals Series as Glory finished with a 4-2 victory.

Kerr broke the W-League all-time scoring record last month reaching 64 career goals, and now is at 67 after her explosive performance on Saturday. Kerr is also the all-time leading scorer in the NWSL with 59 goals.

Kerr wasn’t the only NWSL player to put on a show over the weekend. Orlando Pride forward Rachel Hill also chipped in a goal for Perth Glory and now has six goals this W-League season. Before Hill and Kerr put Perth Glory on the board, Orlando Pride forward Christine Nairn got Melbourne Victory ahead early.

Nairn dribbled with pace down the right flank and whipped in what looked like a driven right-footed service, but the ball slipped in the near post and put Melbourne Victory ahead just under two minutes into the game.

Kerr’s first goal was all about timing–the NWSL and W-League Golden Boot winner managed to read the near-post service from Leticia McKenna and finish one-time with two Melbourne Victory defenders in her path.

Next it was Hill’s turn. She headed home a service from Kerr to give Perth Glory the 2-1 lead in the 86th minute. Melbourne Victory responded with another one of their own before Kerr took over and scored two more times in extra time in the 97th and 107th minute.

And returning to their second consecutive W-League Grand Final, Sydney FC defeated Brisbane Roar 2-1 over the weekend. Thorns FC forward Caitlin Foord and Houston Dash midfielder Sofia Huerta scored for Sydney FC. Foord is second-best in the league with 10 goals in 13 appearances. Her 10th goal came in the 32nd minute in the semifinals when she received the ball at the top of the box, turned and finished far post to put her team up 1-0.

️⚽️ | Here's our opening goal, courtesy of none other than @CaitlinFoord! She loves a goal against the Roar!

The Westfield W-League wrapped up its 11th regular season this past weekend, featuring over 35 NWSL players. The W-League semifinals are set for this weekend with Melbourne Victory facing Perth Glory on Saturday (10 p.m. ET) and then Brisbane Roar hosting Sydney FC on Sunday (3 a.m. ET).

The semifinal between Melbourne Victory and Perth Glory will be a rematch from last weekend when Melbourne Victory defeated Perth Glory 2-1. Despite the defeat, Kerr scored her 11th goal of the season—last month Kerr broke the W-League all-time scoring record reaching 64 career goals. She is now the all-time scorer in both the W-League and the NWSL (59 goals).

Orlando Pride forward Rachel Hill scored five goals this season for Perth Glory, good for third-best in the league. She also leads the W-League in assists with six. Perth Glory teammate Alyssa Mautz chipped in four goals, finishing fourth-best in the league.

Melbourne is soaring into the Finals Series after clinching the regular season with a 7-2-3 overall record for 24 points. Christine Nairn finished the regular season with four assists, good for second-best across the league. Nairn was also second for chances created this season with 31.

NWSL players dominated in chances created across the board. Kerr led the way with 39, followed by Nairn andCaitlin Foord(Portland Thorns FC/Sydney FC) each with 31 chances created respectively, Hill (29), Elizabeth Addo, who played for Reign FC before being waived this week, created 25 chances, Yuki Nagasato (Chicago Red Stars/Brisbane Roar) created 25 chances, Elise Kellond-Knight (Reign FC/Melbourne City FC) had 25 too, Danielle Colaprico (Chicago Red Stars/Perth Glory) created 24 chances and then Theresa Nielsen (Reign FC/Melbourne City FC) created 23 chances.

Sydney FC return to the W-League Final Series for their 11th consecutive season. Foord scored nine goals in 12 appearances this season, second-best in the league. Washington Spirit goalkeeper Aubrey Bledsoe finished the regular season with 45 saves in 11 appearances, third highest in the W-League.

Brisbane Roar finished in second place in the regular season with 20 points and a 6-4-2 overall record, and Sydney FC finished just behind them in the standings with 19 points and a 6-5-1 overall record. Carson Pickett finished third-highest in the W-League regular season with 63 crosses in 11 appearances.

The Westfield @WLeague Finals Series is here and it's time to feel the finals.

In addition to all the NWSL players gearing up for the Finals Series, the other five W-League teams also featured NWSL talent. Melbourne City FC Women, who won the last three Grand Finals, have a handful of Reign FC players on the roster: Lauren Barnes, Steph Catley, Elise Kellond-Knight, Theresa Nielsen, Jasmyne Spencer, Jodie Taylor and Lydia Williams. Additionally, Kyah Simon(Houston Dash) also played for Melbourne City this past season, but recently underwent ankle reconstruction surgery.

Disappointed that I’ll miss the remainder of the @wleague season. I am no doubt gutted to be back in rehab AGAIN, but am fortunate that I have enough time to be back 100% for France! Surgery booked Jan 14 – For an Ankle reconstruction, rehab 3 months. Now the real work starts! pic.twitter.com/HFDB3TwTxn

Melbourne finished the season in fifth place with a 6-5-1 overall record for 19 points.

Reign FC forward Jasmyne Spencer scored four goals in 11 appearances to lead her team.

Adelaide United Women finished the regular season in fourth place with a 5-4-3 record for 18 points. Houston Dash defender Amber Brooks and forward Veronica Latsko played for them this season, along with Utah Royals FC forward Gunnhildur Jónsdóttir. Latsko scored nine goals in 12 appearances for Adelaide, which put her in a three-way tie for second-most goals across the league. Amber Brooks led her side in assists with three in 12 appearances.

Four NWSL players,Taylor Smith (Washington Spirit),Britt Eckerstrom (Portland Thorns FC), Emily van Egmond(Orlando Pride) and Katie Stengel(Utah Royals FC) played for the Newcastle Jets this season, however Smith and Stengel both suffered injuries in December. Smith tore her ACL while playing for Newcastle against Perth Glory, and Stengel suffered an ankle injury that has kept her sidelined in a boot. Newcastle finished in seventh place with a 5-6-1 overall record for 16 points.

Eckerstrom finished the regular season with the most saves across the league with 61 in 12 appearances for Newcastle.

Canberra United and the Western Sydney Wanderers sit at the bottom of the W-League ladder after 14 weeks. Canberra United finished in eighth place with a 3-5-4 record for 13 points, while the Western Sydney Wanderers won one game this season and finished at 1-10-1 for four points. Canberra featured three NWSL players in Denise O’Sullivan(North Carolina Courage), Ellie Carpenter(Portland Thorns FC) and Rachel Corsie(Utah Royals FC). The Western Sydney Wanderers had a duo of Utah Royals FC players on their roster in Lo’eau LaBonta and Sydney Miramontez.

Notebook: Dagny Brynjarsdottir’s back for Portland, plus more news across the NWSL

The latest NWSL news

BY Celia Balf February 04, 2019
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In 2017, Brynjarsdottir played in 11 games (6 starts), recording one assist. (Photo credit: Craig Mitchelldyer/isiphotos.com)

On Monday, the Washington Spirit announced that they have re-signed forward Cali Farquharson ahead of the 2019 NWSL season. Farquharson has made 31 appearances for the Spirit since being drafted in 2016 out of Arizona State University.

Portland Thorns FC also announced a re-signing to start the week. Midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir has re-signed with the Thorns following the birth of her son. Brynjarsdottir played previously in Portland in 2016 and 2017, with 28 appearances and 17 starts.

“We are excited to welcome Dagny back to Portland,” Thorns FC head coach Mark Parsons said in the team’s press release. “She is a tenacious and energetic central midfielder who provided plenty of versatility during the 2016 and 2017 seasons. We love Dagny’s winning mentality and her desire to be the best she can be each day. She knows this club inside out and is an important addition ahead of the 2019 season.”

The Football Ferns announced that they will play Norway in two international friendlies in Spain in April. Tom Sermanni’s New Zealand squad will take on Norway in Marbella on April 5 and April 9 in preparation for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

Last week the Ferns named their squad for the inaugural Cup of Nations in Australia next month. North Carolina Courage defender Abby Erceg will make her official return from international retirement. Rosie White (Chicago Red Stars) and Katie Bowen (Utah Royals FC) will also represent the NWSL on the roster.

Big moves for Reign FC: New venue, new city, new minority owners

Reign FC will play home games at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma, beginning this season

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 30, 2019
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Seattle Reign FC announced Wednesday that it will move to Tacoma, Washington and play home matches in Cheney Stadium beginning in 2019. Also, the club will now be known as Reign FC.

Cheney Stadium, built in 1960, is also home to the Tacoma Rainiers of Minor League Baseball and Tacoma Defiance (formerly Seattle Sounders FC 2) of the United Soccer League. The Tacoma Defiance began playing their home games at Cheney Stadium in 2018. Cheney Stadium has a capacity of 6,500, with a grass field playing surface.

“We spent a lot of time inside Cheney Stadium to imagine the matchday experience we could provide,” Reign FC owner and president Bill Predmore said in the team’s press release announcing the changes. “We can say with certainty that the experience our players and fans will have at Cheney Stadium will be an exponential jump from what we could deliver at Memorial Stadium.”

Predmore continued: “We worked incredibly hard over the past year to find a solution that would allow us to continue playing our home matches in Seattle, but the requirements imposed by the NWSL limited our options. … Out of these challenging circumstances arose an opportunity that fills us with great optimism for our future.”

In addition to the new name and new venue, the ownership group of Reign FC will expand. The operating group of the Rainiers and Defiance, which is led by Rainiers chairman and CEO Mikal Thomsen, will take a minority ownership stake in Reign FC. Also, Seattle Sounders FC owner Adrian Hanauer and his mother, Lenore Hanauer, will make a separate minority investment in Reign FC.

“Adrian and Lenore have both been supportive of our club since its inception, so we are excited to welcome them to the Reign FC ownership group,” Predmore said. “The renewed strength of the ownership group will provide long-term stability, support and strategic leadership that will ensure that Reign FC is able to achieve success both on and off the pitch.”

Predmore made the announcement at a press conference at Cheney Stadium, alongside Reign FC forward Megan Rapinoe. They were joined by Thomsen, Tacoma mayor Victoria Woodards, Rainers president and owner Aaron Artman and Seattle Sounders GM and president of soccer Garth Lagerwey, among others, as part of a larger announcement about sports in Tacoma.

“Can you believe that right here in Tacoma we’re getting a professional women’s soccer team?” Woodards said after announcing the news. “Let’s be frank with one another. Women have not always gotten the most investment in sports, but here in Tacoma, we’re going to get it right. We’re making investments, not just in the sport, but in the women who play the sport, and they deserve to play in spaces that are just as great as the fields and stadiums that we have built for men’s sports teams and that’s what we’ll do in Tacoma. So those of you who know me, know that I say, we can’t do it alone. We’ve got to make this successful together. So let’s all come together. It’s already happening, but let’s make sure that in Tacoma, it is the most successful in the country and we can do that together.”

Artman said at Wednesday’s press conference that Reign FC will train at Foss High School in Tacoma.

“I’ll speak on behalf the team. [I] had conversations with different players, kind of wrapping our head around the move. We genuinely are so excited about this move. I think we see the huge upside and potential that this can offer our club. Everyone is really thrilled to, first of all, play on grass. This is going to add five years to my career,” Rapinoe said with a smile. “It seems like a huge opportunity for the club and to grow the game and for women’s football in general.”

Predmore said the name change to “Reign FC” is to represent the entire region. “Tacoma will be our home, but we’ll invest significant effort to retain our connection to Seattle and the Eastside,” he said in the press release.

Predmore also expressed excitement about the move to Tacoma, a city located on Puget Sound south of Seattle, and the potential that the city and the new partnerships hold for Reign FC. Sounders FC and the Rainiers previously reached an agreement to build a new facility in Tacoma, a 5,000 seat venue on the Cheney Stadium site. Reign FC said that the Metro Parks Tacoma Board and Tacoma City Council have approved feasibility studies of the project, and those studies are underway.

“Over the last year we spent a significant amount of time with the group operating the Rainiers and Sounders FC’s USL squad. We found their vision for growing the game in Tacoma extremely compelling. The more we talked, the more we believed Tacoma could be an ideal long-term option for our organization,” he said.

“Tacoma is a city on the rise. It has an understated charm, many areas of undeniable beauty, and has incredible potential to be the next great city in the Pacific Northwest. It ultimately became clear that Tacoma was the best possible option for our organization.”

Earlier this month, Reign FC announced a new presenting jersey partner in Zulily, a Seattle based online retailer. Zulily will also be the front jersey sponsor for Seattle Sounders FC.

Additionally, the Reign FC online store is live with new 2019 Reign FC merchandise. Fans can visit ReignFCshop.com to shop.

Fans can also visit reignfc.com/tickets to place a deposit on season tickets. The 2019 NWSL season will kick off the weekend of April 13-14.

“We are the newest citizens of the Tacoma community, so we’ll do everything we can to help the city realize its full potential. We are thrilled to call the city our new home.”

In an open letter posted on their website, written by Bill and Teresa Predmore, they addressed Reign FC fans and explained the changes. They also said the team plans to hold free open training sessions in Seattle each month.

Beginning with the 2019 @NWSL season, @ReignFC will play its home matches at Cheney Stadium in Tacoma. Owners Bill and Teresa Predmore penned an open letter to fans & supporters of the club detailing the move.

On Wednesday, the Washington Spirit announced a new broadcast partnership with Monumental Sports Network and NBC Sports Washington for the 2019 NWSL season. The broadcast partnership will provide local TV and digital broadcasts of a minimum of 12 Spirit games during the upcoming season.

The full broadcast schedule for the 2019 season will be provided in the coming weeks, after the NWSL regular season schedule is announced.

“On the day I was hired I said we were going to greatly improve the Washington Spirit experience for our players and fans. Our partnership with Monumental Sports Network and NBC Sports Washington is part of fulfilling this commitment,” Washington Spirit CEO Larry Best said in the team’s press release. “Our fans will have greater access to viewing our matches, and our players will have unprecedented exposure for their world-class play on the field. I’m proud that the Spirit are the first NWSL club to establish this type of partnership and I am delighted that our brand is associated with the best in the business. It doesn’t get better than Monumental Sports Network and NBC Sports Washington.”

The Spirit will also work with MSN and NBC Sports Washington on additional cross-promotional activities—promising new original content on the team on and off the field.

“This agreement with Monumental Sports and NBC Sports Washington is truly groundbreaking,” Spirit midfielder Andi Sullivan said. “My teammates and I value every avenue for enhancing the bond with our fans and this partnership enables us to take it to another level.”

Football Ferns head coach (and former Orlando Pride head coach) Tom Sermanni has named his squad for the inaugural Cup of Nations in Australia next month. North Carolina Courage defender Abby Erceg has made her official return from international retirement, and other NWSL players named to the roster are Rosie White (Chicago Red Stars) and Katie Bowen (Utah Royals FC).

As the W-League approaches the final stretch of the season, NWSL players continue to shine. Chicago Red Stars forward Sam Kerr is not only the NWSL’s all-time leading scorer with 59 goals, but added another record to her career as she became the all-time leading scorer in the W-League over the weekend with 64 goals.

Portland Thorns FC forward Hayley Raso earned her first start over the weekend for the Brisbane Roar in the W-League after recovering from a serious back injury for the past few months. In her return to the starting lineup, Raso also managed to chip in a goal just 18 minutes into the match.

“For me,” Kawasumi said, “my time at Seattle Reign FC is like my treasure. I cherish my memories with you forever. I love Seattle Reign FC so much, and of course it’s so hard to leave the team I love so much. However, my goal is to keep getting better as a player, I think I still have a lot of room to grow and to get to another level higher, I made a decision to leave the team even though it was very tough decision.”

Naho loved her time in Seattle so much, so I asked her to send me a short message…She said “U asked me a 30secs video..it’s no way..i tried but..it’s 4mins, sorry I love seattle so much”? I want2hand(twitter)deliver Naho’s thank you note2YOU, so here it is? #thankyouSeattlepic.twitter.com/ShgZgnPpB0

Her former teammates certainly appreciated the message, but Jess Fishlock also pointed to the culture built by Reign FC in a tweet. “Not only does this show just how amazing NAHO is and why we all love her. But perhaps – also shows how great Reign FC is .. the Organisation .. the Culture it creates to have these WORLD CLASS players not only thrive .. but also have it mean so much to them.”

The Orlando Pride waived defender Polianalast week. According to the Pride press release, Poliana expressed a desire to return to Brazil after the 2018 NWSL season and the two sides mutually agreed to the move.

Press goal lifts USWNT to 1-0 win over Spain

Christen Press scored the game's only goal in the U.S. win over Spain on Tuesday. (Photo credit: Brad Smith/isiphotos.com)

After a loss on Saturday to France, the United States ground out a 1-0 win over Spain on Tuesday at Estadio José Rico Pérez in Alicante. Both teams are headed to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and could meet again this summer — but Tuesday’s game marked the first time the countries had ever played each other. It’s also the first time the U.S. has ever played in Spain.

Utah Royals FC forward Christen Press gave the USWNT the 1-0 lead in the 54th minute with an impressive individual effort. After receiving a pass from Spirit midfielder Rose Lavelle several yards shy of the midfield line, Press sprinted the more than half the field and bent a short around goalkeeper Sandra Paños. Spain defender Andrea Pereira tried to clear the ball, but it rolled over the line.

North Carolina Courage midfielder McCall Zerboni came on in the 69th minute to replace Red Stars midfielder Julie Ertz. It’s Zerboni’s first game since breaking her left elbow in September in a USWNT game vs. Chile. Zerboni missed the NWSL playoffs and the Concacaf Women’s Championship due to the injury.

Pride forward Alex Morgan came into the game sitting on 98 goals, and nearly had her 99th in the 80th minute, but Paños hit the long-range effort over the crossbar.

Seattle Reign FC forward Megan Rapinoe wowed fans with a bicycle kick in the 13th minute as she served the ball into a dangerous area of the box, but it was just out of the reach of Ertz and Morgan, and the U.S. was unable to capitalize on it.

Rapinoe, Ertz and Heath all missed Saturday’s loss to France due to precautionary reasons, but were back in the starting line-up on Tuesday.

The USWNT will next be in action when the SheBelieves Cup begins on February 27.

Sinclair scores 178th international goal as Canada opens up 2019 with win over Norway

Sinclair is now six goals from tying Abby Wambach for most international goals in history

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 22, 2019
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Christine Sinclair scored her 178th international goal on Tuesday, as Canada beat Norway 1-0 in a friendly at La Manga Stadium in Spain. The win comes in Canada’s first official match of the 2019 calendar year as they prepare for the summer’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

Canada, ranked No. 5 in the world, and Norway, ranked No. 13 in the world are both headed to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, so the match was an important tune-up for the tournament.

Sinclair’s goal came in the 66th minute. Jenna Hellstrom crossed the ball into the box and Sinclair found herself open. The Portland Thorns FC forward headed the ball down and to the far post for the game’s only goal. Hellstrom earned the assist just a minute after subbing into the match.

Before her goal, Sinclair had the game’s best chance in the 14th minute. On a ball served into the box, she scooped a left-footed shot from close range, but Norway goalkeeper Ingrid Hjelmseth was able to make the save.

Canada will next be in action in February at the Algarve Cup and will play Iceland and Scotland in their first two games.

USWNT falls to France, snapping 28-game unbeaten streak

The loss is the United States' first since the summer of 2017

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 19, 2019
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Kadidiatou Diani scored twice for France in a 3-1 win over the United States on Saturday night. (Photo credit: Brad Smith/isiphotos.com)

In the end, it just wasn’t the United States’ night as they fell 3-1 to France to open the 2019 schedule. The loss snapped a 28-game winning streak that began after their loss to Australia in the summer of 2017. The United States had gone 25-0-3 during that streak before Saturday night’s loss.

In a preview of a possible quarterfinal match at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, No. 3 ranked France and the No. 1 ranked United States met in Le Havre in France in front of a sold-out crowd.

France largely controlled the match from start to finish. It was the first friendly of the year for both national teams, but France’s players are well into their club seasons, while the U.S. players are in the NWSL offseason.

France got off to a flying start and scored the game’s opening goal in the 9th minute. Delphine Cascarino torched down the right sideline and around Emily Fox, starting at left back. Cascarino’s pass went into the center of the box, and asMorgan Brian slipped, Kadidiatou Diani turned and slotted far post and past Alyssa Naeher to give France the early lead.

In between the two strikes, France had several other chances to add to their lead. They tried a replay of their opening goal in the 27th minute, but this time Brian was able to clear the ball out of danger after Diani flicked it towards Gaëtane Thiney.

Marion Torrent found the head of Eugénie Le Sommer with a cross in the 30th minute, but Naeher stopped the shot and there were no French players close enough to pick up the rebound.

Naeher came up with another big save in the 39th minute, pushing a point-blank shot from Diani out of bounds.

The United States had one of their best offensive chances in the 42nd minute after a weak clearance in the box from France, but goalkeeper Sarah Bouhaddi was able to catch Lindsey Horan‘s header.

Le Sommer had another chance in the 51st minute after former Portland Thorns FC midfielder Amandine Henry stole a ball in the midfield and passed to Le Sommer. But the French forward, who scored vs. the U.S. the last time these teams met in 2018, saw her hard shot go wide.

Crystal Dunn, who usually starts at left back for the USWNT, started in the midfield on the night. She slipped back into the right back spot afterCarli Lloyd subbed in for Emily Sonnettin the 70th minute.

Marie-Antoinette Katoto scored the home side’s third goal in the 78th minute to seal the win.

Idaho native and Santa Clara forward Maria Sánchez didn’t attend the 2019 NWSL College Draft in Chicago, but the moment she was selected caught the attention of many. In a widely-shared video, Sánchez learned she would be drafted by the Chicago Red Stars while surrounded by her Santa Clara teammates as they watched the draft broadcast on a large television in the team lounge.

“They were heading out to practice and I was watching the draft in the team lounge. Right before practice started, we were all just there watching the draft and stuff. That’s when I got the call saying that I was going to be picked. [Santa Clara athletic trainer Sean Shahmirzadi] started recording and it was just perfect timing.”

“It’s exciting to see how many talented players they have and how they’ve done the last few seasons. They’re always one of the top teams,” she said of the Red Stars. “So, the fact that they believe in me and to have an opportunity to play with them — it’s just one in a million for me.”

Sánchez already feels a connection with her new team, as some Mexican internationals are part of the current squad (Katie Johnson and Christina Murillo) and Santa Clara alums have played or currently play in Chicago (Leslie Osborne, Sofia Huerta, Julie Ertz).

“Just seeing the team history and the current roster. It’s crazy to think that I have the chance to play there,” she said.

Her particular skill set of whipping in crosses with a strong left foot — coupled with experience at the international level — had Sánchez on several mock boards when draft day arrived.

“I practice a lot on that. Perfecting my crosses and making sure that I can give good [service] to my teammates,” Sánchez said. “So, I think that’s one of my stronger [attributes]. Obviously, it’s hard to find a left-footer. It’s rarer to find a left-footer. So, I think that’s helped me a lot.”

The 22-year-old winger led all NCAA Division I colleges and universities in assists with 16 during the 2018 season, and believes she can make an impact at the professional level.

“Some of my coaches that I’ve had, they’ve really complimented my left foot, and being able to cross the ball and assist my teammates,” she said. “I think everybody loves scoring goals, but for me, one of my [skills] that makes me really happy is assisting.”

The Mexican international has represented El Tri since she was a teenager. She participated in her first senior level Women’s World Cup back in 2015 when she was only 19 years old, and she wowed the soccer community when she participated in the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup.

Back in October, Mexico had a disappointing and shocking elimination during the 2018 Concacaf Women’s World Cup qualifiers, and will miss next summer’s tournament in France. Now, Sánchez is kicking off the new year by being drafted into the NWSL and named to Mexico’s Cyprus Cup roster. She’s looking forward to continuing her professional soccer career, and believes an opportunity in the NWSL can have an impact on her game both professionally and at the international level.

“Honestly, I think that sometimes you kind of need that to make you realize anything can happen. And I want to work hard so that hopefully an upset like that doesn’t happen again in my career anymore. … That just gives me motivation to work hard. To be aware of how real it is in soccer to be upset like that,” she said.

“But definitely excited to work hard and hopefully make a change in Mexico’s program. I think being on a team like Chicago will really help me, not just in my professional career, but in my playing with Mexico, and to hopefully improve our outcomes there.”

Sánchez is eager to make the most of her opportunity with the Red Stars, and looking forward to not only competing, but learning through her teammates and their examples.

“I’m really excited about [working with] Julie Ertz, Sam Kerr, Katie Johnson, and everybody. I think being able to learn from them and see their work — the work that they put into the sport, the discipline they have, and just seeing what the life of a professional soccer player is,” she said.

“College is different, you have to attend school and other things to do. I’m excited to see how they manage their day, how they work at practice, and kind of see them as my role models. Hopefully, one day I can be like them.”

Morgan scored five goals for the Pride in 2018. (Photo credit: Jeremy Reper/isiphotos.com)

Orlando Pride forward Alex Morgan won the Concacaf Female Player of the Year award for the third-straight year and Chicago Red Stars goalkeeper Alyssa Naeher was named Female Goalkeeper of the Year.

Morgan picked up her fourth Concacaf award (2013, 2016, 2017 and 2018) after leading the U.S. women’s national team to a 5-0-0 record in the 2018 Concacaf Women’s Championship. She finished the year with a team-high 18 goals and added three assists in 19 appearances.

Portland Thorns FC midfielder Lindsey Horan finished in third place for the Female Player of the Year award and Naeher, Horan and Morgan were all named to the Female Best XI along with North Carolina Courage forward Crystal Dunn, Utah Royals FC defender Becky Sauerbrunn and Portland Thorns FC forward Christine Sinclair.

The Concacaf awards are determined by national team head coaches, national team captains, media and fans. The awards look at players, coaches and referees who have “excelled in Concacaf and FIFA-sanctioned tournaments involving the Confederation’s national teams and clubs.”

NEWS: @alexmorgan13 takes the CONCACAF Female Player of the Year award!

North Carolina Courage defender and the 2018 NWSL Defender of the Year Abby Erceg is available for selection for the Football Ferns. Erceg first made her debut for New Zealand in 2006 and was captain of the team from 2014 to 2017. She has competed at three Olympic Games and three FIFA Women’s World Cups.

“Abby is a world-class and highly-experienced international player,” New Zealand head coach Tom Sermanni said. “To have someone of her ability make herself available for the program as we build to the World Cup is a huge boost for everyone.”

The Football Ferns begin their preparation for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup where they have been drawn in Group E, in which they will face Canada, Cameroon and the Netherlands.

The Washington Spirit announced the signing of defender Megan Crosson. Crosson joins the Spirit after previously logging time as a national team replacement player. Crosson has also spent time with the Houston Dash (2016-2017) and overseas with Speranza FC of Japan and UGD Tenerife of Spain.

Seattle Reign FC announced on Tuesday that they have re-signed forward Beverly Yanez ahead of the 2019 season.

Yanez first joined the Reign from Japan’s INAC Kobe Leonessa for the 2014 NWSL season before signing with Seattle ahead of the 2015 season. Yanez helped the Reign win the Shield back-to-back in 2014 and 2015 and has scored 23 goals over her five seasons in Seattle.

“Bev is a truly special player, both on and off the pitch,” Reign FC owner and president Bill Predmore said in a press release. “Her incredible work ethic, understanding of the game, and relentless positivity have made her a huge contributor to our success over the past five seasons.”

“I’m extremely excited and thankful to re-sign with the Reign,” said forward Beverly Yanez. “I’m looking so forward to the 2019 season!”

On Wednesday, the Reign announced the re-signing of defender Megan Oysterfor the 2019 season. Seattle picked up Oyster in the NWSL Dispersal Draft on January 30, 2018. With the Reign, Oyster started in 21 games and helped the Reign earn 12 clean sheets last season.

“Megan was an important addition to our defense last season,” said head coach Vlatko Andonovski in the Reign press release. “She’s a strong, steady defender and I’m looking forward to seeing her build on her success in 2019.”

In international news, Jamaica named their January training camp roster and Spirit forward Cheyna Matthews and former Spirit forward Havana Solaun were named to the roster. Kayla McCoy, who was recently selected by the Houston Dash at the 2019 NWSL College Draft out of Duke University, was also called into camp.

The National Women’s Soccer League issued the following news release on Tuesday afternoon:

AMANDA DUFFY NAMED PRESIDENT OF NWSL

CHICAGO (Jan. 15, 2019) –The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today that Amanda Duffyhas been named President of the NWSL. Duffy joined the NWSL in January 2017 as Managing Director of Operations prior to being named Managing Director for the league in 2018.

In her new role as President, the highest office of NWSL, she will continue to oversee all aspects of the league’s day-to-day operations and will work closely with the league’s owners on the strategic direction and objectives for NWSL as it continues to grow and raise standards for the sport on a global basis.

“Amanda has been instrumental in operating the league as Managing Director,” said North Carolina Courage Owner and Executive Committee Chair Steve Malik. “She’s an extremely talented professional and we feel that she will continue to foster the league’s growth as President. As we look to the future, her experience and talents are a great fit for taking the league to the next level.”

Duffy was a driving influence with the launch of NWSL Media, the commercial arm of NWSL, as well as with the development of the historic partnership between the league and A+E Networks. She presently holds a seat on the NWSL Media Board of Directors.

“I would like to thank the NWSL Board for its support and confidence in me,” said Duffy. “The NWSL has made significant strides over the past six seasons thanks to the world class talent of our players, the vision of our owners and the commitment by everyone associated with the league to make NWSL the global destination for the very best in women’s professional soccer. Add to that the remarkable support from our fans, sponsors and media partners, and we’ve built an outstanding foundation that all of us can work from to realize the extraordinary promise of NWSL and each of our teams.”

Duffy previously worked for Louisville City FC – rising through the ranks of the United Soccer League (USL) club which she joined as the vice president of operations in October 2014 before being promoted to general manager in December 2014 and ultimately being tapped to serve as president in November 2015. She also spent more than seven years at the league headquarters for the USL, where she worked in a number of areas in connection with USL PRO and USL W-League – including strategic planning, league management, and other administrative roles.

Kawasumi first joined the Reign in 2014 on loan from Japanese club INAC Kobe Leonessa. Kawasumi spent four seasons total with the Reign, having earned a full contract from Seattle in 2016. Kawasumi played in 68 games for the Reign and scored 18 career goals.

“Nahomi has had over a decade of experience with the Japanese national team and her international experience alone is a huge asset for us,” Sky Blue FC head coach Denise Reddy said in a press release. “In addition, she has had proven success in this league, success that we believe will transfer here to Sky Blue.”

? Trade ?

We have acquired Nahomi Kawasumi from Seattle Reign FC in exchange for Shea Groom.

“I will play for Sky Blue FC this season,” Kawasumi said. “I am looking forward to playing with my new teammates. I will do my best for Sky Blue and will cooperate with the team for the championship and I’m very happy for you to call me ‘Naho’ when you cheer for me.”

Kawasumi shared the following statement regarding her departure from Seattle:

“Hello, our precious fans of Seattle Reign FC. I am going to play for Sky Blue FC this season. I tried to do my first challenge to play outside Japan in U.S.A. Seattle Reign FC gave me such a feeling that playing in NWSL is so fun!! My teammates, coaches, staff, fans, and the city of Seattle has been the best for me. Although I’m very sad to leave my favorite club, please say hello again because we are friends forever. I hope Seattle Reign FC will achieve a good outcome. I appreciate all of you, Seattle.”

Groom’s will be reunited with her former FC Kansas City coach, Vlatko Andonovski, in his second season as head coach for Reign FC. Groom has been in the NWSL since 2015 and has played 75 games between her time at FCKC in 2015 and 2016, and Sky Blue FC for the past two seasons. The forward has scored 19 goals in her professional career and scored two goals in 2018 with Sky Blue.

“I’m thrilled to be working with Shea again,” Andonovski said in a press release. “She’s a very talented player. She was an impactful player for me in Kansas City and I know she’ll fit in well in Seattle.”

“I’m both humbled and honored to join the Reign family,” said Groom. “It’s an incredible organization that breeds success in this league and I’m happy to be a part of it.”

Courage head coach Paul Riley signs multi-year contract

Riley is a two-time NWSL Coach of the Year

BY Celia Balf January 14, 2019
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Riley led the Courage to an 17-1-6 record in 2018. (Photo credit: Howard C. Smith/isiphotos.com)

The North Carolina Courage have signed NWSL Coach of the Year Paul Riley to a multi-year contract, the club announced on Monday.

Riley led the Courage to a historic treble in 2018, winning the inaugural Women’s International Champions Cup (ICC), the NWSL Shield and the NWSL Championship. The Courage closed out the 2018 season with a 17-1-6 record and set NWSL regular seasons records for most wins (17), points (57), fewest losses (1), most goals scored (53), fewest goals allowed (17), goals against average (.71) and largest goal differential (+36).

Riley joined the Courage from Western New York Flash (2016). In the team’s first season, went on to lead the Courage to the NWSL Shield in 2017. Riley was named the NWSL Coach of the Year in 2017 and 2018.

“We are thrilled to have Paul continue to guide the team,” North Carolina Football Club President and GM Curt Johnson said in a press release. “Paul is a consummate professional who has built a strong, winning culture within the Courage. We look forward to having him lead the team with continued success for years to come.”

As for Riley, he considers it a “tremendous honor” to continue on in North Carolina, as he said in the official release for his new contract. “Steve Malik is a visionary who completely understands the fantastic growth in the women’s game. Courage country is a special place. We have an amazing group of talented players who are willing to walk the wire in the clouds. They have given me the Courage to follow them. It’s an exhilarating time at the club and our fanbase is second to none. I’m looking forward to the challenge of a World Cup year and we have a motivated staff who will strain every sinew they have to service the team and make the club successful.”

The club also announced that Bobby Hammond (VP of Operations) will also assume the title of Assistant General Manager for the Courage.

Notebook: Gibbons announces retirement; Kgatlana named CAF Player of the Year; England roster announced

The latest NWSL news

BY Celia Balf January 14, 2019
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Gibbons played two seasons in the NWSL (Photo credit: Howard C. Smith/isiphotos.com)

Over the weekend, Sky Blue FC defender Christina Gibbons announced her retirement from professional soccer.

Gibbons joined Sky Blue ahead of the 2018 season after playing her rookie city with FC Kansas City. Gibbons was picked up by the New Jersey club via trade from Utah Royals FC ahead of the 2018 season which sentKelley O’Hara and Taylor Lytle to Utah in exchange for Gibbons andShea Groom.

With Sky Blue, Gibbons played in 18 games for 1,430 minutes. The defender made 34 clearances, 29 interceptions and 13 blocks.

England named their 28-player roster for their first training camp of the year. Houston Dash forward Rachel Daly, Orlando Pride forward Chioma Ubogagu and Seattle Reign FC forward Jodie Taylor were all named to the roster.

The Lionesses will travel to Aspire Academy in Doha to begin their training for the SheBelieves Cup in February and the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup this summer.

On Jan. 11, the Washington Spirit announced that they have waived goalkeeper Kelsey Wys. According to the press release, Wys requested to be waived to pursue opportunities overseas. Wys made one appearance in goal for the Spirit in 2018.

Orlando Pride announce Marc Skinner as head coach

Skinner to be second-ever head coach in Orlando Pride history. (Photo credit: Orlando Pride)

The Orlando Pride have hired Marc Skinner as head coach for the 2019 NWSL season, the team announced on Monday.

Skinner joins the Pride as the second-ever head coach in club history. Before coming to the NWSL, Skinner spent the last two and half seasons as the manager at Birmingham City Women F.C. of England’s FA Women’s Super League.

“I want to thank the Orlando City SC organization for giving me the opportunity to lead the Pride ahead of the 2019 NWSL season,” Skinner said in a press release. “I believe that this is one of the biggest clubs in the world. I’m excited to see what the group can bring to this league, and my staff and I will work hard to give them the direction to reach new heights.”

“Marc will bring a breath of fresh air to the Pride through his modern approach to the game while instilling a foundation of principles to build from. He is both an innovative and progressive manager. We have an incredible opportunity in 2019 and beyond, and we are confident that Marc has the ability to create a winning culture with the Pride,” Orlando Pride General Manager Erik Ustruck said.

Skinner is also a UEFA “A” License holder.

The Pride finished the 2018 NWSL season in seventh place with an overall record of 8-10-6. Skinner and the Pride will begin their fourth season as a club in the NWSL in April.

Skinner’s support staff will be announced at a later date.

Canada names January roster

Nine NWSL players were named to the roster

BY Celia Balf January 14, 2019
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Prince scored one goal for the Dash in 2018. (Photo credit:

Canada soccer has named their 2019 January camp roster ahead of their two matches in Europe later this month. Canada will take on Switzerland on Jan. 17 and Norway on Jan. 22 in La Manga.

Nine NWSL players were named to the training camp roster ahead of the two matches in Spain.

“This year is all about preparing for the FIFA Women’s World Cup, so we are eager to get together in Europe and continue the momentum we built throughout 2018,” head coach Kenneth Heiner-Møller said in a press release. “Switzerland and Norway are both difficult sides, so these two matches will serve as an excellent opportunity to test ourselves against strong European opponents.”

Can’t wait until the full squad arrives on Monday, but #CanWNT are already looking fab as they are gearing up for action in Spain! #2019 #Arrived#BringItOn

Homecoming for the Chicago Red Stars

The Red Stars welcomed seven new players at the 2019 NWSL College Draft

BY Celia Balf January 11, 2019
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Davison was selected

The Chicago Red Stars were right at home at the 2019 NWSL College Draft on Thursday, Jan. 10, at the United Soccer Coaches Convention at McCormick Place in Chicago.

The Red Stars welcomed seven new players to their team for the 2019 season – including the first overall pick, Tierna Davidson out of Stanford University.

Red Stars head coach Rory Dames said getting Davidson was “like another Christmas present.” Luckily for Dames and the Red Stars, their tree had plenty of presents under it at this year’s draft. In addition to picking up the 2018 U.S. Soccer Young Female Player of the Year, the Red Stars also selected Maria Sanchez (No. 15 overall) from the University of Santa Clara, Bianca St. Georges (No. 20 overall) from West Virginia University, Kayla Sharples (No. 26) from Northwestern University, April Bockin (No. 31 overall) from the University of Minnesota, Hannah Davison (No. 33) from Northwestern University and Jenna Szczesny (No. 35 overall) from Loyola University Chicago.

“In a World Cup year having as many good players as you can is important,” Dames told NWSL Media after the draft, “and the fact that Hannah and [Kayla] and Jenna all live here is a huge bonus.”

Davison, Sharples and Szczesny don’t have to worry about venturing to a new city to start their professional careers. The local trio brought a roar of excitement from Red Stars fans in the Skyline Ballroom.

“With Hannah and Kayla, it’s exciting to see it come full circle. I take a lot of pride in watching kids that come through the [Chicago] Eclipse Soccer Club and then gravitate up through to college and have the opportunity to play at this level,” Dames said, as the longtime director of coaching for Chicago Eclipse Soccer Club. “All three of them, which is the bigger thing here, played on our [Chicago Red Stars] reserve team the last two years. The reserve team is an important part of our developmental piece for the Red Stars.”

“I’m so happy to be home. It’s a dream come true to be where I grew up and started playing soccer, where I have the best support system ever in my family. It’s very exciting and I couldn’t be happier,” Sharples said after the draft.

There’s a certain understanding that Dames said these three players already have instilled in them just from being on the reserve team.

“I think the last piece here is that they have been with the Red Stars, so they already know what it’s about so to be able to pull them from the reserve team to our team is exciting and it shows a natural progression.”

The draft picks got a warm welcome from current Red Stars players – longtime Chicago resident and Red Stars midfielder Vanessa DiBernardo attended the draft and couldn’t stop smiling, cheering and feeling slightly envious of the future picks since she never went to her own.

Excited to be heading to the @NWSL draft today! Good luck to all the girls entering the draft….and of course, go Red Stars! @chiredstarsPR

“It’s exciting! Especially that it’s here in Chicago,” DiBernardo told NWSL Media about what her first impression of the event was. “I didn’t go to my draft, so this is actually my first one. So it’s cool to see the set up and it’s exciting for all the girls that entered the draft to hopefully continue their careers.”

That “they already know what it’s about” quote that Dames’ said Davison, Sharples and Szczesny all understand from just coming through the Red Stars reserve team, is something that DiBernardo says has kept her and several of her teammates with the club.

“It’s a great culture here and I love being a part of this team. I think that’s something that you can see within our draft picks — that they just have stuck around. There are a lot of us that are still here from the beginning, so our careers have started and continued at the same club which is really fun.”

DiBernardo was selected No. 4 overall at the 2014 NWSL College Draft by the Red Stars. She joined Dames’ squad after playing for him at the WPSL and club level. That same year, Dames also added another key player to his squad that has stuck around and held down the midfield next to DiBernardo, Julie Ertz. This past season these two led the Red Stars to a 9-5-10 overall record which was good for a fourth place finish.

Whether it’s Ertz blocking and tackling and finding an outlet in DiBernardo to play through to Golden Boot winner Sam Kerr up front, or it’s the the tireless work done all over the field by midfielder Danielle Colapricoto find ways to keep the ball, the Red Stars have a squad of veterans who will continue to work for one another. Both Colaprico and longtime Red Stars defender Arin Gilliland joined the Red Stars at the 2015 NWSL College Draft. Each year, the Red Stars have selected at least one player at the NWSL College Draft that has returned the following year.

Davidson said one of the main reasons she’s excited to come to Chicago is for the special culture.

“They definitely helped me in my decision,” she said of her new Red Stars teammates, in a conference call with reporters after being selected No. 1 overall. Davidson is in Portugal with the U.S. women’s national team, alongside several Red Stars teammates like Ertz and Colaprico. “They gave me a lot of good advice, the inner workings of the team, what the team culture was like, the personality of players on the team and they really helped me take a first person look into the team without actually being there, which was incredibly helpful. They’ve definitely welcomed me in really well and I already feel a part of the team.”

Highlights from panels at the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago

Members of the NWSL featured on panels during the convention

BY NWSL Media Staff January 11, 2019
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Alexi Lalas and Amanda Duffy (Photo credit: Meg Linehan/NWSL Media)

Chicago — Members of the NWSL were featured on panels during the 2019 United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago. Highlights from the panels:

Krieger: A couple people sitting in the audience, that’s how I manage it. I don’t know if I really think twice about it. I know that I have this force within me, this drive to want to be a winner and be successful in everything that I do, and also inspire as many people as I can both young and old and I know through sport I can do that. I think that is just my mentality. This whole process, just going through my career both on and off the field, I try to manage it the best, most professional way I know how and to try and be my authentic self and try to reach as many people and connect with people, because we all are human. Just because I’m a professional player and public figure doesn’t mean I’m not a normal human being, so I really like to try and focus on that aspect of myself in connecting with fans, people, coaches, our administration and organization, and people within soccer. I really think that’s important.

Talking about sexuality within a team framework:

Krieger: Penn State, this was the first experience I had with exploring my sexuality and finding my authentic self and fluidity. I never realized I would start having those type of feelings until I reached college, and having that experience that I’m so grateful for. But, going through those experiences and through college and just being on different teams overseas as well, it was never really a thing. It was never really talked about. It was okay. So I feel like in women’s sports it’s very acceptable, more acceptable than in men’s sports. Going through school, we were all very open and honest with each other and I never went through any kind of discrimination, especially within my teammates. I had a handful of other teammates who are part of the LGBTQ community that are also very fluid. It just was never a thing we ever had to talk about it, and I’m just so thankful for that experience because it helped me go through my personal process in finding my truth and being more authentic with myself and sexuality and experiences. I feel very lucky that I had that at Penn State.

Advice to someone looking up to you:

Krieger: I think for me, I try to surround myself with really good people growing up, putting myself in challenging situations that help me grow. College did that in all aspects of my life, both personally and professionally. Control what you’re able to control, because you can’t control anybody but yourself and that’s your work ethic in everything that you do.

1 on 1 with Amanda Duffy, NWSL

Featuring: NWSL managing director Amanda Duffy and Alexi Lalas

On her day-to-day role and if it’s what a commissioner in the NWSL would do:

Duffy: It’s not just the commissioner. It’s what does the staff of a league office look like? So, if we look at ours right now at NWSL, we have as of 5 p.m. today, we’ll be at four full-time staff at the NWSL. So I think that anybody can say that’s not what a league office looks and functions like. So do I do things that a commissioner would do? I’m probably doing things that a commissioner would not do just to keep our day-to-day function.

Examples of her day-to-day duties:

Duffy: The processing of our player contracts and player transactions. Everything to do with our players, I’m in the weeds of moving that along right now. We jus recently hired [a] director [of] operations and player affairs, Liz Dalton, who is on board with us so that is going to transition away. Patrick Donnelly, director of communications, today is his last day with the league so why I say at 5 p.m. this afternoon we move to four people. So, in the time being until we fill that gap in the position, I’ll be making sure we cover the media side of our business. So there is day-to-day stuff I’m doing right now because we aren’t resourced in the right way that I don’t think a commissioner would do.

Transition from being a player to the front office:

Duffy: I played at East Carolina University. When I came out of ECU in 2003, I went into camp with the Carolina Courage. 2003 was the last year of WUSA, so I went into camp with them and spent a little more than a month with them and ended up being cut by their roster. Then I had an opportunity to go to China which SARS, the outbreak of SARS, was ongoing at that time, so I decided against going to China. I went to Virginia Beach and played in the USL W-league ,where we had an undefeated season and won the national championship of the W-League. Wonderful season and I was anticipating to be back in camp with the Courage following that season in August, then the league shut its doors. So I was in a position of not really knowing what the future was and I finished undergrad, finished playing in college. I was one of those players that could get to the next level, but maybe needed that year of the W-League to get me prepared for it. And then that opportunity was just gone. So I ended up going to grad school. Played a couple more years in the W-League, which was the highest level in the United States at that point. And I felt like I was continuing to get better as a player, which was really hard to have that feeling and not be able to take it to what you would say is a professional level.

When I finished grad school I was doing an internship at USL to complete my masters degree and was just like, ‘I’m not ready to stop, but I don’t know what to do?’ But, fortunately the opportunity to go to Sweden fell into my lap and I took advantage of it. Just being in Sweden and being a part of that culture. I was there for a year — by the time I was done I was 26, a couple years out of grad school and it was just like, ‘Alright, I feel ready.’ I have played now, playing professional in Sweden. I’m living over here. It’s such a wonderful life experience, but it was not going to be my life for the next five to ten years. So I just knew that it was time.

I came back and I was fortunate to have maintained relationships with Tim Holt at USL and the group there and was fortunate enough to come back and be a part of USL as soon as I got back. It was because I knew the time was right to enter the next phase of life. I didn’t have as hard as a time of taking those steps.

There were certainly times, and I think the first year I was at USL, the W-League, there was one [team] in Orlando and the W-League team from Virginia Beach was down playing and they needed players, so I think I got registered and played a game or two with them. So it was cool to still be close and involved. The thing that I miss the most and I still miss the most, is the locker room and things and friendships that happen in the locker room. You just don’t replace those in any sort of business setting. Those are friendships that for a lifetime you have and are so special to me today. The transition was really easy because I knew that it was right and I knew that I had done what I could as a player and an athlete at that point. So as I moved through the next parts of it, all of the effort and energy I would put into the training and the games — just started going into work at a computer and administratively became a more consulting problem-solving work ethic I took on.

1 on 1 with Laura Harvey, Utah Royals FC

Featuring: Utah Royals FC head coach Laura Harvey and JP Dellacamera

On the competition of the NWSL:

Harvey: It’s difficult. In our league, you’ve got to try and win every game. To try and get into the top four, you can probably afford to lose four games, maybe five and scrape in, but that’s it. That’s the joy of the league. It’s so competitive.

On the growth of the NWSL:

Harvey: I remember coming here in 2013. I had just left Arsenal and I’m thinking, ‘What have I done? This is nuts.’ And we flew by the seat of our pants probably for two years in the league. Then I think we realized as a league, we’re not just here to make sure we throw out a performance every week, but we need to create this league to be sustainable. I think since 2015 probably, that’s been the mindset: How do we make sure that this keeps being sustainable? I think personally now in this last year, with Dell Loy Hansen, the owner of Utah Royals FC, he’s had a huge influence on — we don’t just now need to be sustainable. How do we be the best league in the world? I’ve always said we’re the most competitive league in the world and I stand by it. Now it’s, how do we raise everything to make sure that we’re there and I think he set a standard for that. All the other owners and all the other people that are invested in the league have done such a brilliant job to get us to this point — I think they needed someone like Mr. Hansen, if anyone’s met him don’t know that he’s very influential when you meet him, to push that little bit further and go, ‘We can do this.’ I do believe in the last 12 months he’s done that.

I think that’s why the housing, salary cap’s gone up. I think that’s why the finances for each player’s gone up and all the other standards around the league are gradually raising. People like him are a huge influence on that.

On equality between the men’s and women’s teams in Utah and owner Dell Loy Hansen:

Harvey: Hansen] said it a lot when I first met him and anyone who’s been in the women’s game long enough sometimes think, ‘Yeah. Whatever. That’s not going to be happen.’

Everything’s equal. Everything. If you look at equality and say there’s a 50/50 split on everything, we get that.

Even to the point that when RSL came into their season and we were starting our season last year, their grass fields weren’t quite thawed out from the snow and I was sitting there thinking, ‘Oh, we’re just going to get put to the back and we’re going to have to deal with what they don’t want.’ And it was completely not that.

He’s a huge influence on that, but everyone within in the club — even Mike Petke, the head coach of RSL, we sat in a meeting and it was like, ‘Right. 50/50. What do you want?’ I was like, ‘Wow, I get a say? That doesn’t normally happen.’

Super lucky. Players have loved it. But I think now from our perspective, internally, we want to give back to them and [Hansen] specifically by winning.

On becoming Utah’s head coach and coaching players like Amy Rodriguez and Becky Sauerbrunn:

Harvey: Amy Rodriguez was finally going to play for me. She’s never being traded ever again. I’m never trading her.

You think Becky Sauerbrunn’s a good player, and then you coach her and you realize how good she is. And not just how good she is, but how much she doesn’t actually think she’s that good, which is mind-blowing to me. So humble. I’m like, ‘No, you’re exceptional.’ It’s been a joy coaching someone like Becky. Even at the point of her career when she’s won everything, done everything, she still wants to learn. She still wants to be better every day and you can’t ask for much more than that.

On the evolution of her coaching style:

Harvey: I think I used to be an idealist. This is the way the game should be played. That’s probably been a big change in me. I think the sentence I say a lot now is, ‘You’ve got to play what the game gives you.’ Sometimes the idealist in me is withering away sometimes because our league is going very transitional.

In 2014 and 2015, when Seattle were very successful, we were a very possession-oriented team and the two teams who were successful in those years were us and [Kansas City] and we played very similar styles. … The same question that’s being asked of [North Carolina] now was ‘How do we stop Seattle and Kansas?’ The way to stop us at the time is to go transitional, so now it’s flipped itself. For everyone going against Carolina, it’s how do we stop Carolina? How do we compete with them? We’ve all realized that we have to be able to deal with how good they are in transition, both sides of the ball. And be prepared of how you’re going to prevent that potentially and how you’re going to stop that when they’re doing it.

I think the idea for me is I want the game to be beautiful and I want us to make a thousand passes and it to be like this heaven. But sometimes the game’s not like that so that’s been a big development in me.

I think I’ve finished fifth three years in a row, which is horrendous. So I think now with me I’m more about — I want to win. I don’t really care how. I just want to win. Honestly.

On the NWSL being on a global stage at the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup:

Duffy: We had more than 50 NWSL players playing in the World Cup in 2015. Certainly, the United States are at least half of those, but a number of other countries were represented by NWSL in 2015 and we expect the same in 2019. Thinking about the Australians that are playing in NWSL, Brazil, Japan and several other countries that have great representation and are currently playing in the league and really make it — we talk about the U.S. women’s national team being the best national team in the world. We look at NWSL as the best women’s professional soccer league in the world. That is supported by the fact that so many U.S. players are playing in it, but so many other internationals are in this league and driving the competition and driving the level of play better each season. It is a destination for players around the world.

On the growth of women’s soccer:

Duffy: I think from the league standpoint and how I’ve seen it evolve, is that it’s less about the women’s soccer business being charity driven. It is a business and people are approaching it with that mindset and there are opportunities to build the business of women’s professional soccer or women’s soccer in general. We’re able to work in general in the same business forums that we see on the men’s side. I think a lot of that has been driven also by the growth of the sport in the United States, not just women’s soccer in general over the recent years, but the sport over the last 10-15 years. There are more fans, more supporters. … We still maintain such a high level of youth participants in soccer and it’s helped all of the women’s side really move forward and accelerate at a pace that is good for the game.

Looking ahead to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup and having the sport on a global stage:

Duffy: The tournament as a whole is going to be wonderful and the visibility. To have the women’s game on the global stage that it will be on and to know that so much of that visibility will come back into and through NWSL through the stories that will be told through the performance of the players — the players that will then come back to the United States and represent their clubs is going to be a great moment for NWSL and will really continue to push our growth forward.

Draft recap: NWSL welcomes new players in Chicago

Davidson, Mace and DiBiasi go 1-2-3

BY Celia Balf January 11, 2019
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The Chicago Red Stars had six picks at the 2019 NWSL College Draft. (Photo credit: Daniel Bartel/isiphotos.com)

Chicago — At the2019 NWSL College Draft on Thursday, Jan. 10, at the United Soccer Coaches Convention at McCormick Place, 36 new faces joined the NWSL for the league’s seventh season.

The Chicago Red Stars were right at home with the draft in their backyard and, with the first overall pick, selected Tierna Davidson out of Stanford University. Davidson, a junior for the Cardinal, registered for the draft in the last few days, giving up her final year of college eligibility to join the NWSL. Davidson learned that she was the first overall pick while she was in Portugal training with the U.S. women’s national team ahead of friendlies in France and Spain later this month.

“I’m really bummed that I couldn’t make it to the NWSL draft, but I’m extremely honored to have been chosen No. 1 overall by the Chicago Red Stars. I’d like to thank Rory [Dames, Red Stars head coach] and the rest of the Red Stars for having confidence in me,” Davidson said in a video recording from camp in Portugal.

“Tierna is a player that doesn’t come a long very often,” Chicago Red Stars head coach Rory Dames told NWSL Media after the draft. “And not necessarily just the skill set, but her maturity level, the experience she already has internationally. She trains and plays with the best team in the world. Our players on that team have nothing but great things to say about her, and Hidecki [Nakada] and Paul [Ratcliffe], (Davidson’s coaches at Stanford), also have nothing but great things to say about her.”

Davidson was one of three Stanford players selected in the first round.

“It’s not usual to have a player that you can bring straight out of the college game that can step directly into your team and have an impact, and her impact is a little different also because she can go into the back, she leads the line, [she knows] when to step, when to drop, and [she knows how to] read the cues,” Dames said.

Cardinal teammate Jordan DiBiasi was selected at No. 3 by the Washington Spirit and was the first draft pick to be in attendance at the draft.

“I think my heart stopped for a second,” DiBiasi told the media when asked how she felt when her name was called. “And then it was just happiness and excitement. It means the world to me, I’m so thankful for the Washington Spirit taking a chance on me.”

The Spirit also selected Cardinal senior Tegan McGrady with the No. 7 overall pick. McGrady was also in Chicago to hear her name called.

“Every paper that I wrote in elementary school, I wrote that I wanted to be a professional soccer player,” McGrady told the media after being selected. “And to say that I’ve gotten to that point is one of the best feelings and another dream that I’ve accomplished.”

The Spirit had four picks in the first round after a trade between Sky Blue FC surfaced just minutes after the start of the draft. The Washington Spirit acquired the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft via trade from Sky Blue FC. In exchange, Washington sent the No. 29 selection in today’s draft and Caprice Dydasco, DiDi Haracic, Estelle Johnson were all three traded to Sky Blue FC.

The Spirit got to celebrate on site with three of their selections in the first-round since No. 3 Jordan DiBiasi (Stanford), No. 4 Sam Staab (Clemson), No. 7 Tegan McGrady (Stanford) were all at the draft. Dorian Bailey (UNC) was chosen at No. 8 by the Spirit, but wasn’t in attendance.

DiBiasi and Staab have played together before at youth national team camps, and they were all smiles after being selected by the Spirit back-to-back.

“Playing with Jordan is going to be great,” Saab told the media when asked what she is most looking forward to this season. She also added that can’t wait to be part of an organization with “new management, new coaches and everything! I’ve had the chance to talk with a lot of their assistant coaches and the rest of their staff and they just seem like tremendous coaches.”

On January 8, just a couple days before the draft, the Spirit named Richie Burke as the new head coach. Burke got thrown right into it with the third overall pick at the 2019 draft, but said coming into this, he and his staff had a very clear game plan.

“Coming into this draft we were very clear about what we wanted and who we wanted to get, and we knocked it out the park. DiBiasi has got a can opener on both feet, she’s a tricky, creative, stylish, tactician,” Burke said. “She’s got a great football brain, a fantastic IQ, so that was a no brainer for me.”

Burke also mentioned DiBiasi’s name along with Mallory Pugh and Rose Lavelle as players he sees being creative on the ball this upcoming season.

The second round kicked off with Sky Blue FC making back-to-back picks (No. 10 and No. 11). Sky Blue FC earlier held the No. 2 overall pick and selected Haillie Mace out of UCLA. In the first round, Denise Reddy’s side also picked up Julia Ashley out of UNC with the No. 6 overall pick. Ashley, despite expressing how excited she was to be selected, told the media that she is undecided about what her next step will be for her professional career.

“I’ve been talking to my agent about possibly France, Sweden or Germany. I’m not sure yet, but it’s definitely an option.”

With the No. 10 pick, Sky Blue FC selected Paige Monaghan out of Butler University. Monaghan is from Succasunna, N.J., so she gets to return to her home pitch to start her professional career. “Im coming home!” Monaghan said at the draft.

Sky Blue then selected Julie James out of Baylor University at No. 11 overall.

The second round started heating up when the league took a time out following the No. 16 pick. The Thorns were on the clock with their first pick of the 2019 draft at No. 17, but traded the pick to the Spirit in exchange for the No. 31 pick and the Spirit’s natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.

The third round drama came when the Chicago Red Stars traded their No. 24 overall pick to the Thorns in exchange for the Thorns’ No. 31 and No. 35 picks. The Thorns selected Emily Ogle out of Penn State, for their first pick at the draft.

News and notes from the 2019 NWSL College Draft

More info from a busy draft day in Chicago

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 11, 2019
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Featuring additional reporting from Celia Balf

Chicago — News from the 2019 NWSL College Draft

Maria Sanchez founded out she was being drafted by the Chicago Red Stars while surrounded by her Santa Clara teammates, and everyone was very, very happy.

The defending champion North Carolina Courage had two picks in the first round of the 2019 NWSL College Draft, selecting Leah Pruitt from the University of Southern California at No. 5 and Hailey Harbison of Pepperdine University at No. 9.

Courage head coach Paul Riley said he feels both players will fit into the Courage system very well.

“Leah Pruitt, I really love her. She’s got Lynn Williams-type speed and ability. She can score goals. She has two great feet, strong as an ox, and size, speed, power and that’s our profile for most of our attacking players,” he said.

Harbison is another first-round pick for the Courage from Pepperdine, joining Williams, drafted in 2015 by the then-Western New York Flash.

“Harbison was a kid we really liked right from the start, she played with Lynn Williams and I talked to Lynn obviously about her and she was big on her. Again, pace, power, size. She’s good on the ball too,” he said. “I think she could play fullback or in the midfield for us.”

University of Oregon defender Jazmin Jackmon’s father cheered the loudest on Thursday when his daughter was selected in the third round of the 2019 NWSL College Draft.

Stanford’s Tegan McGrady delivered an emotional speech after being drafted No. 7 overall by the Washington Spirit. “It has been a childhood dream of mine to be playing professional soccer. Ever since I was a little girl, I dreamed of being a professional soccer player and I can’t wait to start my journey,” she said at the podium.

NWSL managing director Amanda Duffy met with the media during the 2019 NWSL College Draft. Among the topics discussed was the league’s efforts for diversity in the coaching ranks.

“I think generally we want more women working in sports, more women working in soccer, more female coaches that are a part of NWSL specifically in the development ranks leading up to NWSL,” she said. “We worked with U.S. Soccer towards the end of 2018 to coordinate the C-license course to help facilitate the education that goes into coaching. We’re really proud of the turnout of the players, the support from the players, the support from Utah Royals FC and U.S. Soccer in making that course work and putting us in a position to create a foundation, build on it with the development and creation of the education piece of it and now it’s also about creating the opportunities too. So we certainly want to see improvement and want to see more women in the game, more female coaches in NWSL and that’s something that we’re going to continue to work towards to various platforms and avenues that will get us there.”

Duffy said that the league does require teams to include diversity in the hiring process for certain management positions and team coach/technical staffs.

On the topic of playing conditions at Sky Blue FC and the changes to the permitted team assistance cap that were announced on Thursday, Duffy said: “I think the entire league feels pressure to continue to work and build and develop what they’re doing at the local level. For all of the organizations, there is improvement and work to be done. Some organizations may feel that a little more publicly, and a little more visibly and probably last year Sky Blue felt that. We’re working with their ownership and have been for some time on the steps that need to be taken for that organization to show progress and the areas that the league believes it should show progress.”

“We’ve almost doubled [the cap for cost of housing] coming into the 2019 season [over the 2018 season], that’s a part of what falls under the permitted team assistance cap that we announced earlier today. Like other areas, like our salary cap, our minimum/maximum salary and other benefits, we’ll continue to evaluate that and think there is still room to grow,” she said. “Six consecutive seasons we’ve made adjustments to get us to where we are today. I don’t think anyone sits and thinks that we’re in a spot that’s at the right spot, that’s at the end spot, and we can sit here for awhile.”

Duffy also addressed expansion, saying there have been positive conversations going on with groups and that she still anticipates adding a team or teams in 2020.

“We certainly want to get back to ten teams, where we were a year ago, and think that’s important for us. The right number where this league can operate and keep the competitive level that we have right now is really important. It’s going to be at a pace that is going to maintain that competitive level but also get us in the right markets and the right situations,” she said. “We’re not interested in expanding just to expand. It’s got to be with the right groups.”

She said the league continues to speak with FC Barcelona, which has publicly expressed interest in joining the NWSL. “It’s a dialogue that has been ongoing for sometime now. Certainly more than a year. An organization, a club, a brand that would certainly add value to NWSL, not just domestically but on a global scale, so we continue to have positive conversations with Barcelona,” she said.

On the continuing search for a new commissioner and whether she would like to be commissioner of the NWSL: “I think the dynamics, and there’s several factors that go into the structure of our league — between our partnerships and the governance structure of how we operate — is all taken into consideration. As the owners look forward at what they want with this league, what path is it that we want to be on for NWSL in defining the role for what the commissioner position is, that’s a part of that conversation. Their continuing to have it and I’m excited about continuing to be a part of the growth,” she said. “I enjoy working with this league and I enjoy being a part of moving the things forward that we’re moving, making it a stronger league and working with these owners to create better situations in each of the markets and this is a league that continues to show its progress and I’m proud of what we’re doing and excited to continue doing that work.”

Duffy also spoke about where digital games will stream in 2019: “Right now, we know that all of our digital games will move from the go90 platform to Yahoo! Sports for the 2019 season. Beyond that, we’ll have more details once we have our schedule in place for the 2019 season.”

Every pick of the 2019 NWSL College Draft

2019 NWSL College Draft picks

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 10, 2019
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Paige Monaghan is welcomed on stage by Yael Averbuch after being selected by Sky Blue FC in the 2019 NWSL College Draft. (Photo credit: Robin Alam/isiphotos.com)

&&&& On January 10, Portland Thorns FC acquired the No. 24 overall pick from the Chicago Red Stars in exchange for the No. 31 and and No. 35 overall picks in the 2019 NWSL College Draft.

%%%% On January 10, the Washington Spirit acquired the No. 17 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft from Portland Thorns FC in exchange for the No. 31 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and Washington’s natural second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.

@@@@ On January 10, the Washington Spirit acquired the No. 3 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft from Sky Blue FC in exchange for the No. 29 overall pick in the 2019 draft, Estelle Johnson, Caprice Dydasco and DiDi Haracic.

**** On January 9, 2019, the Washington Spirit acquired the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft via trade from the Chicago Red Stars. In exchange, Washington sent the 20th pick in the 2019 College Draft and the club’s natural first-round selection in the 2020 College Draft to the Red Stars.

@@@ On January 9, 2019, the Chicago Red Stars have acquired forward Katie Johnson from Sky Blue FC in a trade announced on Wednesday afternoon. In exchange, Sky Blue FC will receive the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and the Red Stars’ highest second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.

^^^ On December 17, 2018, the North Carolina Courage acquired Seattle Reign FC’s first-round pick (originally acquired by the Courage from the Reign in the trade for Merritt Mathias **) in exchange for Darian Jenkins.

** Seattle Reign FC acquired the North Carolina Courage’s natural first-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Seattle’s natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and Merritt Mathias. Details

* The Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft from Utah Royals FC in exchange for the rights to Christen Press. Utah Royals FC received the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft when they entered the league and acquired the No. 7 overall pick from the Orlando Pride (via Seattle Reign FC). Details

# Sky Blue FC received a conditional first-round and natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft from the Washington Spirit in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NWSL dispersal draft. Details

@ The North Carolina Courage acquired the Houston Dash’s natural first-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for two second-round draft picks in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and Allysha Chapman. Details

^ The Washington Spirit acquired Portland Thorns FC’s natural first-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a 2018 international roster spot and future considerations. Details

## The Houston Dash acquired the Orlando Pride’s natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for defender Poliana. Details

&& The North Carolina Courage acquired Utah Royals FC’s natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and the rights to Heather O’Reilly in exchange for Makenzy Doniak and North Carolina’s natural third-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft. Details

@@ The Houston Dash acquired the Orlando Pride’s natural third-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Lotta Ökvist. Details

Davidson was in Portugal with the USWNT when she became the first pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 10, 2019
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(Photo credit: Robin Alam/isiphotos.com)

Chicago — Stanford and U.S. women’s national team defender Tierna Davidson is now a member of the Chicago Red Stars. Davidson left Stanford early to join the NWSL and was picked first overall by the Chicago Red Stars at the start of the 2019 NWSL Draft in Chicago on Thursday morning.

Davidson, 20 years old and a junior at Stanford University, registered for the draft in the last few days, forgoing her final year of college eligibility to join the NWSL and take a more full-time role on the U.S. women’s national team as they prepare for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup. She learned of her selection in the draft while in Portugal training with the U.S. ahead of friendlies in France and Spain later this month.

“I’m really bummed that I couldn’t make it to the NWSL draft, but I’m extremely honored to have been chosen No. 1 overall by the Chicago Red Stars. I’d like to thank Rory [Dames, Red Stars head coach] and the rest of the Red Stars for having confidence in me,” Davidson said in a video message recorded at camp in Portugal and played after her selection.

“I’d also like to thank my coaches, teammates and family for pushing me to a better player and person both on and off the field, and supporting me in every decision that I make.”

Davidson was recently named U.S. Soccer’s Young Female Player of the Year. In 2018, she established herself a starter on the backline for the U.S. women’s national team. She started all 12 games in which she appeared. She played every minute of the SheBelieves Cup vs. Germany, France and England, earning the second, third and fourth caps of her career. She has one goal for the USWNT, scored on August 31 vs. Chile.

She broke her ankle in September vs. the University of North Carolina and did not play again for Stanford, missing the NCAA tournament. She also missed the United States qualifiers for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France.

“There were a couple of factors and, of course, numerous conversations, but I would say the biggest factor was putting me in the best position to develop as a soccer player in these coming months before the World Cup and beyond, looking at the very busy U.S. women’s national team schedule between now and the end of 2020,” Davidson said in a conference call with reporters of her decision to leave Stanford early. “Obviously there’s room to grow in every part of my game and I think that just elevating my game to the next level with the elite competition of the NWSL was the best way to go for me.”

Davidson finishes her college career with six goals and eight assists. She started 48 of the 49 games in which she played. In 2017, she was named College Cup Most Outstanding Defensive Player, helping to lead Stanford to the NCAA title.

“Over the past two and a half years at this institution I have grown as a player and a person each day. The support from faculty, coaches, classmates and teammates has enabled me to confidently make the decision to take the next step in my life and soccer career by entering the 2019 NWSL College Draft,” Davidson said in a video message posted on social media, thanking Stanford.

“I will forever be indebted to this prestigious institution and its people, and I fully intend to return to achieve the highest honor I could ever earn as a Stanford student athlete — the completion of my bachelor’s degree,” she said in the video.

“They definitely helped me in my decision,” she said of her new Red Stars teammates. “They gave me a lot of good advice, the inner workings of the team, what the team culture was like, the personality of players on the team and they really helped me take a first person look into the team without actually being there, which was incredibly helpful. They’ve definitely welcomed me in really well and I already feel a part of the team.”

NWSL increases roster size ahead of the 2019 season

The news was announced on Thursday ahead of the 2019 NWSL College Draft

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 10, 2019
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(Photo credit: Rob Gray/isiphotos.com)

On Thursday, the NWSL announced rule changes that increased the roster size, salary cap and permitted team assistance cap ahead of the 2019 NWSL season. The roster size will now be a minimum of 20 players and a maximum of 22 players, and there will now be four supplemental roster spots that will not count against the salary cap. The minimum and maximum salaries will also rise for the 2019 season.

More details below in the full news release from the NWSL:

NWSL INCREASES PLAYER COMPENSATION CAPS AND ROSTER SIZE FOR THE 2019 SEASON

CHICAGO (Jan. 10, 2019) – The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) announced today changes to the roster rules to increase roster size, Salary Cap and Permitted Team Assistance Cap ahead of the 2019 NWSL Season.

“This is an important step in the growth of the league,” said NWSL Managing Director Amanda Duffy. “In addition to these roster changes allowing the league and its teams to provide additional employment opportunities for more players plus additional benefits in connection with housing and auto, this marks the sixth consecutive season the Board of Directors has supported increased compensation.”

The NWSL senior rosters will expand to a minimum of 20 and a maximum of 22 players. In addition, the League has created four new supplemental roster spots that will allow teams to sign up to four additional players at the League minimum who will not count against the Salary Cap.

The NWSL Salary Cap will also be increasing to $421,500 for each NWSL club for the upcoming season including an increase of $54,000 for the two new spots. The minimum and maximum salary figures will be rising to $16,538 and $46,200, respectively.

In addition, the Permitted Team Assistance Cap has nearly doubled from the previous season, allowing teams to spend additional amounts through providing players assistance in the areas of housing and automobiles.

Final list of players registered for the 2019 NWSL College Draft

The 2019 NWSL College Draft will take place on Thursday, January 10, at 12 p.m. ET

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 09, 2019
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Wednesday evening, the NWSL released the final list of registered players for the 2019 NWSL College Draft, which will take place on Thursday, January 10, at 12 p.m. ET at the United Soccer Coaches Convention at McCormick Place in Chicago. [Full Draft Order]

**** On January 9, 2019, the Washington Spirit acquired the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft via trade from the Chicago Red Stars. In exchange, Washington sent the 20th pick in the 2019 College Draft and the club’s natural first-round selection in the 2020 College Draft to the Red Stars.

@@@ On January 9, 2019, the Chicago Red Stars have acquired forward Katie Johnson from Sky Blue FC in a trade announced on Wednesday afternoon. In exchange, Sky Blue FC will receive the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and the Red Stars’ highest second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.

^^^ On December 17, 2018, the North Carolina Courage acquired Seattle Reign FC’s first-round pick (originally acquired by the Courage from the Reign in the trade for Merritt Mathias **) in exchange for Darian Jenkins.

** Seattle Reign FC acquired the North Carolina Courage’s natural first-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Seattle’s natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and Merritt Mathias. Details

* The Chicago Red Stars acquired the No. 1 overall pick and the No. 7 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft from Utah Royals FC in exchange for the rights to Christen Press. Utah Royals FC received the No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft when they entered the league and acquired the No. 7 overall pick from the Orlando Pride (via Seattle Reign FC). Details

# Sky Blue FC received a conditional first-round and natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft from the Washington Spirit in exchange for the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 NWSL dispersal draft. Details

@ The North Carolina Courage acquired the Houston Dash’s natural first-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for two second-round draft picks in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and Allysha Chapman. Details

^ The Washington Spirit acquired Portland Thorns FC’s natural first-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for a 2018 international roster spot and future considerations. Details

## The Houston Dash acquired the Orlando Pride’s natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for defender Poliana. Details

&& The North Carolina Courage acquired Utah Royals FC’s natural second-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and the rights to Heather O’Reilly in exchange for Makenzy Doniak and North Carolina’s natural third-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft. Details

@@ The Houston Dash acquired the Orlando Pride’s natural third-round pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft in exchange for Lotta Ökvist. Details

The Chicago Red Stars have acquired forward Katie Johnson from Sky Blue FC in a trade announced on Wednesday afternoon. In exchange, Sky Blue FC will receive the sixth overall pick in the 2019 NWSL College Draft and the Red Stars’ highest second-round pick in the 2020 NWSL College Draft.

The 2019 NWSL season will be Johnson’s third in the NWSL. She has eight goals in 42 career NWSL games with Sky Blue FC in 2018 and Seattle Reign FC in 2017. Johnson is a member of Mexico’s national team, which did not qualify for the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, so she is expected to be available for the full season. Johnson could give the Red Stars a key offensive threat while reigning Golden Boot winner Sam Kerr is away on international duty with Australia. She has eight goals in 21 appearances for Mexico.

“I am absolutely excited and thrilled to be joining this club,” Johnson said in a Red Stars news release. “They’ve always had a great reputation and have repeatedly been one of the top teams in the league. I can’t wait to arrive in Chicago and play with some of the best players because I think if you play with some of the best players it elevates your game too.”

Following the trade, Sky Blue FC now have eight total picks in the 2019 NWSL College Draft — three picks in the first round (No. 2, 3 and 6), as well as the No. 10, No. 11, No. 19, N0. 28 and No. 34 picks. Even with giving up a pick, the Red Stars still hold two picks in the first round (No. 1 and No. 7) following the trade, as well as the No. 15, No. 24, No. 26 and No. 33 picks.

The latest order for the 2019 NWSL College Draft, last updated on January 9, can be found here.

“Katie is an outstanding forward with international experience that has proven to be a force up top in the NWSL,” head coach Rory Dames said the Red Stars news release. “This is a big get for us and gives us a strong forward to have with us the entire season. I’m excited to welcome Katie to the Chicago family.”

The 2019 NWSL College Draft will take place on Thursday, January 10, in Chicago

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 08, 2019
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NWSL College Draft (Photo credit: Jose L. Argueta/isiphotos.com)

Tuesday afternoon, the NWSL released an updated preliminary list of registered players for the 2019 NWSL College Draft, which will take place on January 10 at 12 p.m. ET at the United Soccer Coaches Convention at McCormick Place in Chicago.

This is not the final list of players who are eligible to be drafted, and there is still time for players to add their names to the list. The deadline is 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, January 9, 2019. More NWSL College Draft information, including how players can register for the draft and eligibility requirements can be found here.

To follow all the action of the 2019 NWSL College Draft, use #NWSLDraft and follow the NWSL on Twitter,Facebook andInstagram.

Preliminary list of players registered for the 2019 NWSL College Draft:

(x)denotes new name since the previous list of registered players was released on January 3

The Washington Spirit hired Richie Burke as the new head coach and technical director on Tuesday.

In addition to the hiring of Burke, the Spirit also welcomed Michael Minthorne as the new high performance coach and Christian Cziommer as the tactical analyst and team performance coach.

Burke joins the NWSL after serving as the head coach of D.C. United’s Under-23 team. He previously coached with D.C. United’s academy program from 2005-2010 and later went on to work with Livingston FC in the Scottish Professional Football League from 2012-2013. He found his way back to D.C. United in 2014.

“I’ve worked with professional men’s teams in both the U.K. and U.S., and now the chance to work with professional women is very exciting,” Burke said in the Spirit press release. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to coach this team of world-class players, alongside a knowledgeable and passionate group of coaches and staff. We will work tirelessly to provide Spirit fans with an exciting brand of football that they will be proud of, and establish a winning culture on and off the field.”

The Spirit return members of their technical staff in Tom Torres (player/opponent analyst and technical development coach), Kati Jo “KJ” Spisak (scouting and reserve team head coach) and Ben Berczek (equipment manager and training coordinator).

Last week, the Spirit hired Larry Best as the team’s first CEO. According to a press release from the Spirit, his role will include club strategy and operations along with the hiring and management of technical staff.

Notebook: Orlando, Houston make front office moves; more player news

The latest NWSL news

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 07, 2019
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Orlando City Stadium (Photo credit: Mark Thor/Orlando Pride)

As the 2019 NWSL College Draft approaches, teams are continuing to make moves. Here’s the latest news from around the NWSL following a busy Monday:

The Orlando Pride named former Orlando City (MLS) player Erik Ustruck as general manager. Ustruck will manage all aspects of the Pride’s technical operations, the club said, and report to Luiz Muzzi, the new executive vice president of soccer operations for Orlando City SC.

The Pride said that Ustruck has been assisting with the team’s search for a new head coach, who will be announced in the near future. The Pride also said that Ustruck will represent the Pride at the 2019 NWSL College Draft, which will take place Thursday.

Ustruck was most recently the manager of soccer operations for the Pride and Orlando City.

“I am honored and excited to begin this new position with the Pride and want to thank Luiz and the rest of the executive leadership for entrusting me with this opportunity,” Ustruck said in a Pride news release. “We have already hit the ground running, not only to put together a strong, competitive roster, but also to build a team culture here in Orlando that every player will want to be a part of.”

Brian Ching has stepped down as managing director of the Houston Dash, the club announced on Monday, to focus on personal and entrepreneurial interests. He will serve as an advisor to the Dash for the 2019 season.

Dash head coach James Clarkson will be the technical director for the Dash, and oversee all soccer operations and player personnel decisions.

“I am very grateful for the opportunity to have worked for the Dash. I remember the first time we discussed the idea of creating an NWSL club, and six years later we have the most talented team in the history of the club,” Ching said in a Dash news release. “I will be available to help in any way possible as James gets acclimated with the league, starting with the NWSL College Draft next week. Fans can find me at BBVA Compass Stadium as I support James and the rest of the team for an exciting NWSL season.”

Also on Monday, the North Carolina Courage announced the signing of Swedish midfielder Julia Spetsmark, pending the receipt of her P-1 visa and International Transfer Certificate (ITC).

Spetsmark made her senior international debut for Sweden in 2016 and made one appearance at the 2017 Euros. She most recently played for Djurgården in the Damallsvenskan in Sweden, scoring six goals in 11 games after joining the team in July of 2018.

“Julia fits our profile for an attacking player. Skillful, pacey, excellent 1-on-1 ability, crafty and relentless both sides of the ball,” said Courage head coach Paul Riley said in a team news release. “It’s a tremendous opportunity for Julia and we believe this will be key in her establishing herself as an invaluable piece on the Swedish national team. Excited to add her to all the other key attacking pieces we have.”

What You Need To Know: 2019 NWSL College Draft

The 2019 NWSL College Draft will take place on Thursday, January 10, in Chicago

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 06, 2019
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The 2019 NWSL College Draft will take place on Thursday, January 10, in Chicago. (Photo credit: Jose L. Argueta/isiphotos.com)

What you need to know for the 2019 NWSL College Draft.

When/Where

The 2019 NWSL College Draft will take place on Thursday, January 10, at 12 p.m. ET/11 a.m. CT at the United Soccer Coaches Convention in Chicago. The draft will be open to the public and media and will be held in the Skyline Ballroom at McCormick Place, with DJ Amy Robbins doing the music inside the room.

Marisa Pilla, Lori Lindsey, Jen Cooper and Jordan Angeli, along with special guests, will be on the call for the draft live from McCormick Place in Chicago, providing fans will the latest news, information and insight on each selection.

“In order to be eligible for the 2019 NWSL College Draft, a player must:

Be a player who will forego any remaining college eligibility or must have exhausted their eligibility during the 2018/2019 academic year, and

Be at least 18-years-old during the College Protected Period (which ends at the conclusion of the 2019 season), and

Register for the draft with the NWSL by the deadline at 4 pm ET on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.

The League will review each College Draft registration form. No player may be selected who has not registered for the College Draft; unregistered and ineligible players will not be included on the list of interested players provided to the teams on the day of the College Draft.” More Details

How the Draft Works

NWSL teams will take turns making their selections over four rounds, with nine picks per round. Utah Royals FC were awarded the first pick in the draft when they joined the league, but later traded it to the Chicago Red Stars. The rest of the draft order in Round 1, and for Rounds 2, 3 and 4, is in reverse order of the 2018 regular season standings.

NWSL College Draft: Players to Watch

At the 2018 NWSL College Draft, it was no surprise to anyone when Andi Sullivan was chosen first overall out of Stanford by the Washington Spirit. This year, however, it isn’t as easy to predict who will be selected first.

As the big selection day draws near, here are 14 seniors to watch for, if they register for this year’s draft.

The 2019 NWSL College Draft will be held on Thursday, January 10 at 12 p.m. ET at the United Soccer Coaches Convention at McCormick Place in Chicago and the Chicago Red Stars hold the first pick. Full draft order

Khadija “Bunny” Shaw, Tennessee

The senior forward out of the University of Tennessee has had quite the year, both for her college team but also on the international level with Jamaica. Shaw made her international debut in July before World Cup qualifying and scored a jaw-dropping 19 goals in 12 appearances to lead all goal scorers in World Cup qualifying, in any confederation. Shaw’s goals helped Jamaica clinch their first-ever Women’s World Cup berth. For the Vols, Shaw finished her final season with 13 goals in 15 appearances.

Hailie Mace, UCLA

Despite playing in just 13 games for the Bruins due to her international duties with the U.S. women’s national team, Mace still totaled nine goals in her senior season. Mace led her team in game-winning goals (3) and was named an All-American. Mace has already showed that she can play at the highest level given her national team call-up and first cap in 2018. Mace is versatile and has showed that she can succeed as either a forward or defender. She finished her career with 24 goals and 12 assists.

Julia Ashley, UNC

Ashley was a four-year starter in the back for North Carolina and helped the Tar Heels win 60 games and an ACC title in 2017. The Tar Heels fell to their ACC rival Florida State in the NCAA Women’s College Cup final, but Ashley’s senior career was nothing short of impressive on all sides of the pitch. Ashley led the Tar Heels in assists (10) and was tied for the team lead in goals (6). Ashley is the type of player that can be seen all over the field in any given game – her fitness is top tier and was on full display when she scored the game-winner against Georgetown in the national semifinals.

Jordan DiBiasi, Stanford

DiBiasi was a key part of Stanford’s midfield this season and was named Pac-12 Midfielder of the Year along with being named first-team All-America. She finished her career for the Cardinal with 31 goals and 23 assists, 15 of which were game winners. Her senior year she had 10 goals and 10 assists for 30 points. DiBiasi is a player who can find the back of the net in big moments – in the College Cup semifinal game against South Carolina, DiBiasi scored twice to push her team onto the final.

Caitlin Farrell, Georgetown

The senior forward out of Georgetown helped the Hoyas finish the 2018 season as the most successful team in program history with an overall record of 21-1-3. Farrell scored 18 goals, eight of which were game-winners and chipped in three assists. Farrell is another senior forward who can score big goals, but even more promising is that she has improved every season. Farrell went from scoring just one goal as a rookie, three goals in her sophomore campaign, to closing out her college career with eight as a junior and then 18 in her final season.

Emily Ogle, Penn State

Ogle is a redshirt senior out of Penn State and was named Big Ten Midfielder of the Year after scoring six goals and adding five assists in her final season. She finished her career with the Nittany Lions with 20 goals and 21 assists. Ogle started all 25 matches this past season and is a dynamic midfielder that has a field awareness that will help her adapt to the professional pace.

Victoria Pickett, Wisconsin

Pickett is a senior midfielder out of the University of Wisconsin and became the first All-American since Washington Spirit midfielder Rose Lavelle picked up the nod for UW in 2016. Pickett finished 2018 with one goal and four assists for six points. Pickett is best when given the task to distribute and open space for her attacking line.

Ally Prisock, USC

Starting every game in the back for the University of Southern California, Prisock helped the Trojans earn 15 shutouts this past season, the second most in program history and allow just 11 goals. Prisock was named First Team All-American along with her All Pac-12 and All-Pacific Region first team honors. The defender earned 90 career starts and also scored one and had an assist in her senior season.

Leah Pruitt, USC

Pruitt is another standout player from USC. Pruitt finished her senior season second on the team in points (33) after scoring 12 goals and earning nine assists. Pruitt led the Pac-12 in game-winning goals (6). Her career for the Trojans started in 2016 after transferring from San Diego State. Pruitt emerged from an offensive spark off the bench her sophomore season to a starter her junior and senior year.

Bianca St. Georges, West Virginia

St. Georges was a lockdown defender for the University of West Virginia in 2018 earning All-America and 2018 Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year accolades. She helped the Mountaineers earn 12 shutouts this season and snatch the Big 12 championship. Don’t let her defensive position fool you, St. Georges also proved she can score goals. This past season she scored seven goals, after only having two goals in her career prior to last year.

Arielle Schechtman, Georgetown

In 2018, Schechtman was named Big East Goalkeeper of the Year for the second year in a row. The Georgetown goalkeeper led the nation in shutouts (15), goals-against-average (.296) and save percentage (.920). She made 80 saves this season and allowed only seven goals through 23 games. Schechtman will likely be the first goalkeeper out of the 2019 draft class to get scooped up, she lifted the Hoyas to their most successful year yet with a 21-1-3 overall record.

Alana Cook, Stanford

Defender Alana Cook was part of the standout Stanford senior class that went 82-6-5 overall including an impressive 41-1-2 in Pac 12-play over their four-year careers. Cook picked up All-America honors and finished her career with five goals and seven assists. Cook started all 93 games during her four years at Stanford and was named Pac-12 Defender of the Year this season.

CeCe Kizer, Ole Miss

Kizer closed out her career at Ole Miss with 13 goals her senior season along with nine assists. She led the SEC in both, respectively and picked up an All-American nod. She set an Ole Miss career record for goals (48), points (119). The forward has put Ole Miss on her back and will surely find a way to score some goals if selected by an NWSL team.

Kayla McCoy, Duke

McCoy finished her career at Duke leading her team in goals (12), shots (61), attempts on goal (36) and assists (8). McCoy was a firepower on offense and was named an All-American in 2018. McCoy led the ACC with eight goals and finished second with 19 points. McCoy played alongside 2018 NWSL Rookie of the Year Imani Dorsey (Sky Blue FC) when Dorsey was at Duke. The two were dynamic on the front line, each scoring 14 goals in 2017.

Utah Royals FC sign midfielder Veronica Boquete

Boquete last played in the NWSL in 2014

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 04, 2019
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Utah Royals FC have signed midfielder Verónica Boquete, the club announced Friday. Boquete rejoins the NWSL after playing for Portland Thorns FC in 2014.

Boquete joins Utah Royals FC after last playing in China for Beijing BG Phoenix. After departing the Thorns, she also played for Frankfurt, Bayern Munich and Paris Saint-Germain. She scored four goals and six assists in 15 games with the Thorns in 2014.

“I wanted a new challenge in an ambitious club. There is nothing better than Utah Royals FC and the NWSL,” Boquete said in comments released by Utah Royals FC. “I am happy to be back in the U.S. and I am grateful for the trust of Utah Royals FC. I can’t wait to start the season and fight for our goals. Great club, team, fantastic fans, and a world class coach. I am looking forward to meeting my teammates and to work with Laura.”

“We are really happy to bring Vero to Utah. She is a proven talent that knows what it takes to play in the NWSL,” Utah Royals FC head coach Laura Harvey said in the team’s news release about the signing. “Her commitment to wanting the best is unbelievable and once we started speaking about the possibility of bringing her to the club, that level of professionalism shined through. Vero is a player I have admired for a number of years and I am glad we can finally work together. She is a proven goal-scorer, play-maker, and can play anywhere in the midfield or the frontline.”

Boquete also has international experience, having last played for Spain in 2017. In 2011, she was named Player of the Year of Women’s Professional Soccer while playing for the Philadelphia Independence.

She should help a Utah Royals FC offense that finished with the third-fewest goals in the league last season, and will likely lose several key offensive players to the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup.

USWNT roster set for January camp and friendlies in Europe

The United States will play France on January 19 and Spain on January 22

BY Jacqueline Purdy January 04, 2019
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The USWNT is headed to Europe in January. (Photo credit: Brad Smith/isiphotos.com)

With the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup kicking off in June, teams are beginning their final preparations leading up to next summer’s tournament. On Friday, U.S. Soccer announced that U.S. women’s national team head coach Jill Ellis has called in 26 players for January’s training camp and games on the road vs. France and Spain. Twenty-four of those players are from the NWSL.

The United States will play France in Le Havre on January 19 (2:30 p.m. ET/FS1) and then Spain in Alicante on January 22 (2:30 p.m. ET/ESPN2 & UDN). They’ll travel to Europe for a camp in Portugal beginning January 7 before traveling to the game in France. It’s the first time that the USWNT’s annual January training camp will take place in Europe. Ellis will name gameday rosters for each game, and not all players in camp will suit up for each match.

The game at Stade Océane in Le Havre will give the U.S. a preview of the stadium that will host their final group stage game of the 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup in France, vs. Sweden on June 20. The U.S. will play Spain at Estadio José Rico Perez in Alicante. It will be the first time the U.S. will play Spain, and also the first time they will play in Spain.

“It’s a real positive to start the year with this training period in Portugal and then play two top teams in France and Spain away,” Ellis said in a U.S. Soccer news release. “Finding ways to be successful against European teams in Europe is something every team in the World Cup will have to do to advance deep into the tournament, so this is an essential trip in our prep for the summer.”

North Carolina Courage midfielder McCall Zerboni and Stanford defender Tierna Davidson are back with the team for the first time since suffering injuries last fall. Also back with the team after missing the November trip to Europe are Chicago Red Stars midfielder Morgan Brian, Portland Thorns forward Tobin Heath, Utah Royals FC defender Kelley O’Hara and Utah Royals FC forward Christen Press.

Chicago Red Stars midfielder Danielle Colaprico, who earned her first caps in November, and North Carolina Courage forward Jessica McDonald, who scored her first international goal in November, are both on the roster for this camp.

The two non-NWSL players called in for this camp are Davidson and University of North Carolina defender Emily Fox.

“We are fortunate to have solid depth in numbers for this pre-camp, because having the ability to train against ourselves is a vital part of our preparation,” Ellis said in the release. “Inviting seven central midfielders and seven forwards for three starting positions each, speaks to the depth and competitiveness of the front six. We recognize that we have formally entered a World Cup year and I know the players’ focus and enthusiasm will reflect the importance of the work we have to do in January.”